Iraq appears to delay militia disarmament as Iran-backed factions pressure Baghdad – analysis

Iraq appears to be delaying the disarmament of Iran-backed militias, initially set for September 30, the same deadline for the scheduled departure of US troops. National Security Advisor Qasim al-Araji stated that the process of consolidating weapons under state control would begin "gradually" after September 30, calling it a "strategic Iraqi decision" to be carried out through dialogue, not confrontation. This shift comes amid pressure from Iran, whose officials recently visited Baghdad. The militias, many sanctioned by the US as terrorist groups, have historically conducted numerous attacks, and some factions, like Kata'ib Hezbollah, have linked disarmament to the departure of all foreign forces, including Turkish troops. Baghdad's move is seen as a tactic to postpone confronting the powerful militias, many of which are technically part of the state-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).