British analysis says Kataeb Hezbollah conditions on weapons may be negotiation tactic

WASHINGTON, United States — LONDON — A British analysis published by Amwaj Media says conditions set by Kataeb Hezbollah (Kitat Said al-Shuhada) on placing its weapons under state control are likely a negotiating tactic rather than a fixed demand. The report says the group's demands reflect concerns over how arms would be organized once transferred to the state. In an August statement, Kataeb spokesman Kazim al-Fartusi said the group would not hand over its weapons as long as what he described as occupation and sovereignty violations continue. Badr Organization leader Hadi al-Amiri separately said weapons regulation must be an Iraqi decision rather than one imposed from outside, a position the analysis said mirrors Kataeb's conditions and reframes weapons control as a joint national project. The report said the most probable outcome is regulation of weapons rather than their full handover, a formula that would allow both sides to save face. It added that Washington has rejected proposals to freeze weapons rather than surrender them, and that Baghdad's ability to meet a timeline set for the end of September will be decisive. No Iraqi government comment on the analysis was immediately available.