❗️Iraq officially sets June 2027 deadline for armed factions to surrender weapons

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Thursday set 30 June, 2027 as the new deadline for armed factions to hand over their weapons to the state, following the conclusion of the US-led coalition in Iraq.

“October 1 is considered a serious beginning to address the issue of weapons outside state control ... according to a clear roadmap and agreed timelines extending no later than June 30, 2027,” Zaidi said in a statement, revising an earlier 30 September deadline.

The Iraqi government argues that the coalition’s withdrawal will remove the justification used by armed factions, many of them backed by Iran, to maintain their arsenals.

“Based on the constitutional principle, the decision of war and peace should be left to the constitutional authorities, banning all military action to the contrary,” Zaidi said on Thursday.