ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan on Wednesday announced that four armed militia groups have committed to restricting weapons to the hands of the government. This comes amid heated discussions on the future of these pro-Iran groups and Washington’s threats.
In an exclusive interview with Rudaw, Zidan named Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata’ib Imam Ali, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya as “factions that have clearly declared their commitment to the principle of restricting weapons to the hands of the state, in accordance with the directives of the Supreme Religious Authority [the Marja].”
Hashd al-Shaabi or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which includes Iran-aligned armed groups, was formed in 2014 to fight the Islamic State following a call from Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. The PMF has been partially integrated into the state but a recent move for full integration was retracted by the government following US pressure.
Some of the political wings of the armed factions won seats in the November parliamentary elections, with Sadiqoon Bloc, an affiliate of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq armed group, winning 27 of the legislature’s 329 seats.
Washington has intensified pressure on Baghdad to curb Iranian influence and reduce the role of Iran-backed armed groups. The United States is reportedly urging Iraq to dissolve all armed factions, including those integrated into state structures such as the PMF.
Earlier this week, Mark Savaya, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy to Iraq, described reported steps by Iraqi armed factions towards disarmament as “a welcome and encouraging development,” saying it “represents a positive response to the longstanding calls and aspirations of the Marjaeya and our respected religious authorities.”
His remarks came amid criticism of recent comments by Zidan who thanked “the brothers, the leaders of the [armed] factions” for responding to his advice on “cooperating to enforce the rule of law, confining weapons to the hands of the state, and transitioning to political action after the national need for military action has ceased.”
A draft of the latest US National Defense Authorization Act links continued US financial assistance to Iraq to tangible reductions in the capabilities of Iran-aligned militias. The legislation also bans any US assistance to the pro-Iran Badr Organization, led by Hadi al-Ameri, which secured 18 seats in the most recent parliamentary elections.
Savaya stressed that statements of intent are not enough, adding that there must be a “comprehensive” and "irreversible" disarmament that includes all armed factions.
Conditional disarmament
Iraq’s top judicial official did not mention if the four armed groups have any conditions for their disarmament but some of these groups have linked any such move to the presence of foreign forces in the country.
When ISIS controlled large swathes of Iraqi territory in 2014, Baghdad called for international support. The United States formed a global coalition whose mandate in Iraq’s federal areas ended in September. However, under an agreement with the Iraqi government, the multinational coalition may keep troops in the Kurdistan Region for an additional year.
The prominent Shiite politician Ameri told Rudaw on Wednesday that they will not accept the dissolution of the PMF, adding that there is an “Iraqi decision” for the disarmament of armed groups but linked it to the withdrawal of the coalition forces from Iraq.