Iraqi Prime Minister Calls for Disarmament as Sadr Dissolves Saraya al-Salam

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Zidi has issued a formal directive for political factions to surrender their arms to the state, signaling a major push to consolidate national security. This call follows Muqtada al-Sadr’s decision to dissolve his armed wing, Saraya al-Salam, in a move widely viewed as a direct response to the government’s disarmament initiative. Under the transition plan, three battalions comprising approximately 9,000 personnel will be integrated into the regular army. These forces will be placed under the command of General Sottom to ensure formal military oversight. Security analysts suggest that this integration will significantly strengthen the government’s monopoly on force. The move is expected to exert substantial pressure on other armed factions to follow suit and relinquish their independent military capabilities. However, the development has reportedly placed several political entities in a difficult position. These groups are now said to be scrambling to reorganize their own armed wings in response to the shifting security landscape.