Iraq

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq’s recently released list of preconditions for discussing militia disarmament with the Iraqi federal government indicates that Islamic Resistance in Iraq militias have no intention of disarming.[19] The preconditions include a complete and “genuine” US withdrawal from Iraqi territory and assurances that the United States does not return to Iraq, the “liberation” of Iraqi political and economic decision-making from US “hegemony,” the withdrawal of Turkish forces from northern Iraq, and disbanding the Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga due to their US-Israeli alignment.[20] The Islamic Resistance of Iraq includes Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al Shuhada, all of which are among the closest Iraqi militias to Iran and have been the most kinetically active in recent months.[21] These militias have continuously refused to disarm and likely recognize that the Iraqi federal government will not be able to implement all of their demands, which suggests that the militias made these demands without any intention to disarm.[22]

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq also condemned Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al Zaydi’s “provocative and irresponsible” actions, in reference to recent Iraqi federal government attempts to crack down on the militias.[23] Iraqi authorities have closed 71 “fake” headquarters of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and raided a likely Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba base in recent weeks, for example.[24] The PMF is an Iraqi state security service that includes multiple Iraqi militias that answer to Iran instead of the Iraqi prime minister.[25] The Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service also arrested a Harakat Hezbollah al Nujaba reconnaissance unit leader in Dhi Qar Province on August 17.[26] An open-source intelligence (OSINT) analyst reported on August 17 that Iraqi authorities handed the militia leader over to PMF authorities following threats from the militias.[27] Previous Iraqi administrations, particularly under former Prime Minister Mustafa al Kadhimi, have conducted limited crackdowns on militia activity, but Iran’s infiltration of Iraqi government institutions and the relative strength of the Iraqi militias have limited the scale of such efforts. Kadhimi tried multiple times to arrest militia members but would later release them due to militia pressure, for example.[28]

A member of Iranian-backed Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al Haq’s political wing, Sadiqoun, falsely claimed on August 18 that Iraqi militias’ current capabilities are limited to “simple weapons.”[29] Iranian-backed Iraqi militias have conducted numerous missile and drone attacks against US and partner forces in Iraq and the region throughout the war.[30]  The Sadiqoun member’s comments follow reports of Iraqi militias circumventing the federal government’s disarmament efforts, including by handing over inoperable weapons.[31]

Members of the Iraqi federal government’s Jurf al Sakhr Committee reportedly conducted a field visit to several villages in the area to review security conditions and interview local farmers.[32] An informed source told Iraqi media on August 18 that the committee includes representatives from the PMF in addition to other governmental ministries and security institutions.[33] Farmers living in the al Saidan, al Jir, and al Uwaysat villages demanded the renewal of temporary agricultural land contracts and the return of displaced families, according to Iraqi media.[34] The source noted that the committee will complete its investigation into Jurf al Sakhr and submit a report to Zaydi within 10 days.[35] Kataib Hezbollah and other Iraqi militias liberated Jurf al Sakhr from the Islamic State in Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) control in late 2014 and displaced the area’s predominantly Sunni residents.[36] The militias continue to exercise control over Jurf al Sakhr and do not permit civilians or government officials to enter the area.[37] The committee’s visit follows reports that Zaydi may be planning an operation to encircle and enter Jurf al Sakhr if the militias do not comply with the Iraqi government’s September 30 disarmament deadline.[38]

Members of the Iraqi Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee reportedly failed to reach a consensus on Zaydi’s request for the committee to draft a law to restrict weapons to the state.[39] Zaydi met with the committee on August 17.[40] Zaydi has mentioned presenting such a law to parliament in recent days.[41] Iraqi media reported on August 17 that disagreement among committee members prevented the committee from reaching a consensus on the disarmament law, but that the federal government would draft the law and submit it to Parliament for discussion and approval.[42] A member of the Sunni Azm Alliance heads the committee, which also includes parliamentarians from various parties, such as Asaib Ahl al Haq’s Sadiqoun political wing.[43] Iraqi media also reported that unspecified parliamentarians who are not affiliated with Iranian-backed Iraqi militias held separate meetings to discuss the law.[44] The parliamentarians reportedly discussed which weapons would be referenced in the law, possible mechanisms to address weapons depots, the possible integration of disarmed groups into other security institutions, and security guarantees that the government can provide militias to convince them to hand over their weapons.[45] It remains unclear how Zaydi’s draft law differs in intent or practice from existing Iraqi laws that forbid armed groups from operating in Iraq.

A Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) parliamentarian and member of Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee told Iraqi Kurdish media on August 18 that the Iraqi federal government is expected to submit the PMF draft law to Parliament within the next two weeks.[46] It is unclear if the parliamentarian is referring to the PMF Retirement and Service Law or the Popular Mobilization Authority Law. The PUK parliamentarian said that the Iraqi federal government is sending the draft law to Parliament to address demands from some armed groups within the PMF.[47] Zaydi separately directed the head of Parliament’s Security and Defense Committee on August 12 to complete its review of the PMF draft law for presentation to Parliament, according to Iraqi media.[48] The “PMF draft law” may refer to two recent draft laws that address the PMF but were recently withdrawn from Parliament for various reasons. Former Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al Sudani withdrew the PMF Retirement and Service draft law from Parliament in March 2025.[49] The draft law would have reportedly required around 3,500 PMF leaders, including Popular Mobilization Committee Chairman Faleh al Fayyadh, to retire due to their age.[50] Sudani also withdrew the Popular Mobilization Authority draft law from Parliament in August 2025, reportedly due to US pressure.[51] The Popular Mobilization Authority draft law would have likely increased Iran’s influence in the Iraqi political and security spheres by formalizing key structures of the PMF.[52] It is unclear if parliamentary committees have revised either of these draft laws. Parliamentary committees must review and approve draft laws before Parliament as a whole can discuss and vote on the laws.[53] Both laws may be undergoing the legislative process given that Zaydi and the PUK parliamentarian appear to be referencing distinct draft laws. Zaydi’s order for the parliamentary committee to complete its review of a PMF draft law implies that the federal government already re-submitted the draft law. The PUK parliamentarian remarked nearly a week after Zaydi’s order that the federal government is soon expected to submit a PMF draft law to parliament, however.[54]