Kataib Hezbollah spokesman sets three conditions for surrendering weapons in Iraq

A spokesman for Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah has set three conditions for the armed group's disarmament as a debate over bringing weapons under state control continues. Spokesman Abu Mujahid al-Asaf said the full withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq, the departure of Turkish forces from northern Iraq and the dissolution of the Peshmerga forces must be met before the group's weapons file is addressed. Asaf also criticized Prime Minister Ali al-Zaydi, accusing him of disregarding recommendations from political forces and relying on Tom Barrack, the U.S. special envoy to Iraq. The spokesman alleged that security forces' operations have harassed families, said "patience is running out" and warned that retaliation could begin "eye for an eye, even if the other side is wrong." The statement comes as Iraqi political forces have set a September 30 deadline for activities that keep weapons outside official state institutions. Iraq's four presidential institutions have said they are determined to centralize weapons under the state and have linked the process to the start of a coalition forces withdrawal. Kataib Hezbollah said in June that it would not hand over its weapons until the foreign military presence ends. Other groups, such as Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada and the Imam Ali Battalions, have expressed support for the government's approach to regulating weapons.