Iraq starts weapons collection process as militias resist deadline

Baghdad has shifted the 30 September deadline, originally set as a firm cutoff for armed factions to surrender an estimated six million weapons, and is now treating the date as the commencement of a regulatory process. The change follows the refusal of two prominent militia groups, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al‑Nujaba, to hand over arms they describe as “resistance weapons,” a term the factions use to differentiate their stockpiles from conventional armaments.

The Iraqi government’s adjustment signals an attempt to formalize the disarmament timeline while accommodating the militias’ stance, aiming to prevent a breakdown in negotiations and to maintain stability amid ongoing security reforms. Officials indicated that the regulatory framework will outline verification, storage and possible reintegration measures for surrendered weapons, though the refusal of the two groups could delay the overall reduction of armaments and affect broader efforts to consolidate state authority over armed actors.