As the last US troops pack up in Iraq, militias signal their weapons will stay
Iran-backed militias reject handing over weapons as the U.S. withdrawal nears completion, leaving Iraq’s post-exit security plan unresolved.
- The U.S. military is finalizing its withdrawal from Iraq by Sept. 30, with hundreds of troops exiting northern bases as the government issues an ultimatum for armed groups to disarm.
- Following the 2024 agreement between Washington and Baghdad to wind down the mission, the government now seeks to integrate armed factions under control of the Iraqi army.
- Powerful Iran-backed militias like Kataib Hezbollah have rejected disarmament demands, with factions stating there is "absolutely no decision" to surrender "dynamic weapons."
- Kurdish leadership expresses anxiety about security after the withdrawal, as Iran-affiliated groups have targeted energy facilities and the office of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
- Iraqi government spokesperson Sabah al-Numan said last week that dialogues remain ongoing, though analyst Sajad Jiyad stated there will be no disarming of any groups by the 30th of September.
36 Articles
36 Articles
Why Iraq’s militias will keep their weapons-and defy Baghdad
As the United States prepares to complete its military withdrawal from Iraq, Baghdad is approaching a sovereignty deadline it is unlikely to meet. The real obstacle is not logistics or legislation, but Iran’s determination to preserve the armed networks that have become central to its influence over Iraq. September 30 is supposed to mark a […]
<p>The United States will withdraw its last troops from Iraq by September 30, but pro-Iranian groups refuse to disarm. The United States will withdraw hundreds of troops and equipment from Iraq, mostly to Jordan. Pro-Iranian groups refuse to disarm.</p>
Iraq is facing a detailed test on the current 30 September period, which coincides with the completion of the United States withdrawal and demands that the armed factions hand over their arsenals, amid widespread rejection and regional and security concerns.
Why Iraq’s militias will keep their weapons
On Sept. 30, the US is due to complete its final withdrawal from Iraq, more than two decades after its ill-fated invasion. With this will come a moment Baghdad has branded “sovereignty day.” It is the date on which the Iraqi state is supposed to hold a monopoly on all weapons within its borders. But if recent history is any indication, that landmark achievement will not happen. Not because the process is complicated but because Iran has decided …
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