Asaib Ahl al-Haq Backs Consolidation of Arms Under State Control

Asaib Ahl al-Haq and its political wing, the Saduqun Bloc, have announced their support for the consolidation of all weaponry under the exclusive control of Iraqi state institutions. The movement stated it rejects the existence of uncontrolled arms outside of official government oversight. Khalid al-Saidi, a member of the Saduqun Bloc's political office, reiterated Secretary-General Qais al-Khazali's call for the state to centralize arms. Al-Saidi characterized the move as a national necessity to prevent foreign powers, specifically the United States, from using the presence of non-state weapons as a pretext for attacks on Iraq. The movement noted that Islamic resistance groups are already integrated within the government-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Support for the centralization of arms is contingent upon the state maintaining the capacity to secure Iraq's land, air, and sea borders. These statements follow similar calls for stability from Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaydi and Muqtada al-Sadr's decision to integrate the Saraya al-Salam militia into the state structure.