Iraqi PM Sets June 30, 2027 Deadline for Pro-Iran Militias to Disarm

Iraqi PM Sets June 30, 2027 Deadline for Pro-Iran Militias to Disarm

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Thursday announced June 30, 2027 as a new deadline for armed factions to turn over their weapons to the state, following the end of the US-led coalition’s mission in the country. The Iraq militias disarm deadline was unveiled at a Sovereignty Day Conference in Baghdad marking the withdrawal of foreign forces.

“October 1 is considered a serious beginning to address the issue of weapons outside state control, according to a clear roadmap and agreed timelines extending no later than June 30, 2027,” Zaidi said in a statement, having backed away from an original September 30 deadline.

The Iraqi government believes the withdrawal of coalition forces will deprive the armed factions, many of them backed by Iran, of the excuse they have used to retain their arsenal. But many fear the pullout might boost the factions instead, and draw the country deeper into the Middle East war.

“Based on the constitutional principle, the decision of war and peace should be left to the constitutional authorities, banning all military action to the contrary,” Zaidi said on Thursday.

Why the Iraq militias disarm deadline matters

The US-led coalition officially ended its mission in Iraq a day earlier, more than a decade after it deployed to the country to help fight the militant Islamic State group. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards welcomed the withdrawal on Thursday as a “historic victory” and called for American troops to leave the Middle East.

Zaidi had originally set September 30 as the deadline for factions to disarm, but later withdrew it as talks to “regulate” weapons continued. While some factions have already handed over their weapons to the state, others have refused.

Iraqi armed factions backed by Tehran said they were “not bound by any timeline or agreement” to surrender their weapons to the state. A military spokesman for Kataeb Hezbollah, Jaafar al-Husseini, said at an event celebrating the coalition’s withdrawal that the factions had been in talks on “regulating” their weapons but “have not yet received a response from the Iraqi government”.

“Based on this, the Islamic Resistance declares that it is not bound by any timetable or agreement that any governmental or political party has spoken of or may speak of,” he said.

Militias set conditions, threaten the government

The factions have put forward conditions that include not only the withdrawal of foreign troops but also an end to American political and economic interference. Kataeb Hezbollah has said the withdrawal of “the occupation forces is a start towards achieving full sovereignty”. But the group also threatened Zaidi’s government.

“A government that doesn’t work for the good of its people will be brought down by all possible means,” it said.

The pro-Iran groups had long demanded the withdrawal of US troops, targeting them with drones and missiles, and triggering US retaliatory strikes that killed several faction commanders over the years. During the Middle East war that began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran and allied factions intensified their attacks in Iraq, targeting US-led troops in the Kurdistan region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the new deadline for Iraqi militias to disarm?

June 30, 2027. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi announced it on October 1, replacing an earlier September 30 deadline that he withdrew during talks.

Why did Iraq set the deadline now?

The US-led coalition ended its mission in Iraq on September 30, more than a decade after deploying to fight the Islamic State. Baghdad argues the withdrawal removes the factions’ main excuse for keeping their weapons.

Have the militias agreed?

No. Kataeb Hezbollah says the factions are “not bound by any timeline or agreement”, and some have refused to hand over weapons, though others already have.

What conditions have the factions set?

They want not just the withdrawal of foreign troops but also an end to American political and economic interference in Iraq.