Full Breakdown
U.S.-Backed Push to Disarm Iran-Linked Iraqi Militias Encounters Setbacks
9/7/2026, 12:30:21 AM
Core Event
The Trump administration is backing Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s effort to bring the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) under state control. A senior Iraqi official announced in late August that the September 30 deadline will be treated as the U.S.–led coalition’s withdrawal date, not as a cut-off for militia disarmament. The Iraqi government says it is working on mechanisms for weapons surrender, but hard-line groups such as Kataeb Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba have publicly refused to disarm or integrate.
Background & Context
The PMU, a coalition of Iran-aligned militias, has been embedded in Iraq’s security architecture since the fight against Islamic State. In May, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly for diverting oil revenues to Iran and its proxy militias. The UAE’s *The National* later reported that Al-Bahadly received a seven-year prison sentence and a multi-million-dollar fine for corruption.
Official Statements & Responses
“Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi: All political forces fully agree on moving forward with restricting weapons to state control, and work is underway on mechanisms for surrendering weapons and bringing this issue to a complete end.” U.S.
Data & Statistics
- Deputy Oil Minister Ali Maarij Al-Bahadly: sanctioned in May; later sentenced to seven years in prison and fined millions of dollars.
- September 30: identified by Iraqi officials as the coalition’s exit date, not a disarmament deadline.
- Multiple militias, including Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Imam Ali, have issued statements of intent to hand over weapons, yet no verifiable disarmament has been documented.
The combined diplomatic pressure from Washington and internal Iraqi initiatives continues to face entrenched militia opposition, leaving the timeline for full PMU integration uncertain.
