Hekim proposes handing Hashed al-Shaabi weapons to the state-linked body itself

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Ammar al-Hekim, leader of the National State Forces Alliance, has proposed that weapons held by the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary be handed over to the Hashd itself as an official state institution. Hekim put forward the formula during a meeting in Baghdad with U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Joshua Harris, saying the group deserves a privileged position because of its role and sacrifices in the fight against ISIS. The proposal comes against the backdrop of an Iraqi government deadline of Sept. 30 for armed factions to hand over weapons to official state institutions. The State Administration Alliance has warned that armed activity outside the state after that date will be treated as a security threat and unlawful. Some Hashed al-Shaabi factions have refused to surrender their weapons, conditioning any handover on the withdrawal of foreign forces and guarantees that Iraq will be protected from external attacks. Hekim's proposal, while framed as a transfer to an official body, leaves open whether it would in practice preserve the group's military capacity and influence.