Muqtada al-Sadr Moves to Dissolve Saraya al-Salam and Surrender Arms to State

Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr has announced the dissolution of the Saraya al-Salam militia, ordering the group to surrender its weaponry to the Iraqi state. The government of Prime Minister Ali Fallah al-Ziyadi has formally welcomed the decision as a step toward consolidating state authority. This development occurs amid persistent pressure from the United States, which has conditioned its ongoing support on the disarmament of non-state armed factions. The move highlights a deepening divide within Iraq’s security landscape regarding the integration of paramilitary forces. Major factions, including the Nujaba Movement and Kata'ib Hezbollah, have publicly rejected calls to disarm, signaling significant resistance to the government's centralization efforts. These groups maintain their own operational structures independent of the state security apparatus. Regional analysts suggest that the status of groups aligned with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps remains a complex challenge. Observers note that resolving the presence of these militias will likely require diplomatic solutions that extend beyond Iraq's national borders.