Iraq moves to put off militia disarmament until June 2027 while US moves out

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, currently in New York for the UN General Assembly, has pledged to disarm Iran-backed militias by June 2027, a move that coincides with the US withdrawal from Iraq on September 30. This plan involves a 90-day cessation of militia attacks followed by disarmament. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Zaidi to discuss the US-Iraq partnership, emphasizing the importance of Iraq dismantling militias and fully exercising its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Iraqi ground forces commander Qassim al-Mohammedi called for the disarmament of the YBS Yazidi armed group in Sinjar, stating, "All non-Iraqi armed men must leave the area because this isn't their area of operation, and their presence cannot be accepted."