Iraqi Shiite Militias Agree to Disarm Only If US Troops Withdraw

Iraqi Shiite militias, long resistant to surrendering their weapons to the state, have shifted their stance and agreed to disarm on one key condition: the withdrawal of American forces from Iraq. This development comes as Iraq’s new, young Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi prepares for a visit to Washington, where he is expected to press the US to meet this demand.

Al-Zaidi, a 40-year-old businessman and former favored candidate of then-President Trump, was tasked with forming a government free of Iranian influence and dismantling Shiite militias. However, due to Iraq’s Shiite majority and deep Iranian ties since 2006, he was unable to exclude pro-Iranian factions entirely. He did succeed in keeping the large Hezbollah Brigades militia out of his government.

Recently, militias such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Saraya al-Salam have announced their intention to disarm and hand over weapons to the state, following Al-Zaidi’s requests. Despite their relatively smaller size, this signals a broader trend among militias previously refusing to disarm. According to the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, militias that remain armed do not seek confrontation with the government but insist on the US military’s exit from Iraq as a precondition.

The Iranian influence remains strong, evidenced by the recent funeral procession of Iran’s Qassem Soleimani passing through Najaf and reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have established secret cells in Iraq to conduct attacks against Gulf states hosting US forces. Al-Zaidi’s upcoming Washington visit will also focus on exploring alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz for exporting Iraqi and regional goods, alongside the disarmament issue.

This evolving situation highlights Iraq’s complex balancing act between Iranian influence, American presence, and internal security challenges as it enters a new political era under Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi.