BAGHDAD — Iraq has ordered Iran-backed armed groups to disarm by September 30, in a major move aimed at strengthening state authority and restructuring the country’s security landscape, according to officials familiar with the decision.
The directive is linked to Baghdad’s broader plan to consolidate all armed forces under state control as the US-led international coalition continues its phased withdrawal from Iraq.
Officials said the measure targets a range of militia factions that have operated alongside or outside formal security institutions, many of which maintain ties to Iran’s regional network of allied groups.
The Iraqi government has long faced pressure from both domestic and international partners to curb the influence of non-state armed actors, particularly amid rising regional tensions and concerns over parallel military structures operating outside state command.
The order comes as Baghdad seeks to balance relations between Washington and Tehran while asserting greater sovereignty over its security apparatus.
No immediate reaction was reported from the armed factions named in the directive, and it remains unclear how strictly or quickly the order will be implemented on the ground.
The US-led coalition has been gradually reducing its military presence in Iraq, part of an agreed transition toward a more advisory role focused on counter-ISIS operations and training support.
Analysts say the move could mark one of the most significant attempts in years by the Iraqi state to assert full control over armed groups, though they caution that enforcement challenges remain due to the political and military influence of some militias within the country’s power structure.
