Iraq debate over state monopoly on arms deepens as 2026 deadline nears

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq is approaching a September 2026 deadline to end the presence of weapons outside state control, while international coalition forces continue their withdrawal from the country. The government maintains that arms should rest exclusively with official institutions, but the method and timing of implementation remain politically contested. Officials and political actors say the issue extends beyond a purely security decision, linking directly to the state's capacity to enforce the rule of law and assert sovereignty. The process, they argue, requires a gradual path based on political and legal consensus given Iraq's complex environment. The debate has also brought renewed attention to armed groups linked to official institutions, such as the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi), and to questions over how to address the history and sacrifices of those formations. Officials are calling for swift passage of the Hashd al-Shaabi law and a related retirement regulation, guarantees for the rights of martyrs' families, and a clearer separation between recognized security institutions and other armed formations. The coalition drawdown is increasing Iraq's responsibility for managing its own national security, with centralization of arms seen as part of that broader transition. No further details on the implementation timeline were immediately available.