Iraq's Prime Minister Faces Uphill Battle Disarming Iran-Backed Militias
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani is facing a credibility crisis as Iran-backed factions resist his directive to surrender their weapons to the state by September 30, the same date as the planned withdrawal of U.S.-led coalition forces. Al-Sudani pledged to disarm these groups following a July meeting with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, but he is encountering significant opposition from militias loyal to Iran, which have supported Tehran by attacking American targets.
Despite past promises from some factions in 2025 to disarm and avoid escalation with the Trump administration, these commitments were never fulfilled. Al-Sudani, who took office in May, is now tasked with reining in these groups, which are aligned with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps. While he enjoys substantial U.S. backing, al-Sudani must also navigate Iran's considerable influence in Iraq through its ties with Shiite politicians and militias, requiring a cautious approach.
Recent events highlight the challenges. On August 17, special forces reporting directly to the prime minister arrested the intelligence chief of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, an Iran-aligned faction designated a terrorist organization by the U.S., on charges of drone attacks against American interests. The 48-hour detention led to threats of retaliation from the group and intervention by senior Shiite politicians. A week later, Iraqi forces arrested four militants, including a local commander, for facilitating attacks on U.S. interests, underscoring the political and security obstacles to al-Sudani's disarmament campaign.
Senior politicians have warned that aggressive actions could make disarmament impossible and destabilize the country. They argue that the militias cannot disarm while supporting Iran in its conflict with the U.S. and have previously cited the presence of U.S.-led coalition forces as a reason for their reluctance.
Five Iran-aligned Shiite factions have categorically rejected the September 30 deadline for disarmament, dissolution, and integration into state security forces. Kata'ib Hezbollah, one of the most powerful factions, issued a statement in August criticizing al-Sudani and setting conditions for dialogue, including guarantees against the return of U.S. forces and the removal of all American influence on Iraq's political and economic decision-making.
These militias, operating under the umbrella of the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq," comprise approximately 10 factions with around 50,000 fighters and possess significant arsenals, including long-range missiles and anti-aircraft weapons. The group claims responsibility for numerous attacks on Israel and U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, demonstrating increasing sophistication in drone attacks. They also hold commercial interests in construction, real estate, and exchange companies.
