Iraq's PM Sets Deadline to Bring Armed Factions' Weapons Under State Control

Iraq's prime minister has set June 30 as a deadline for consolidating weapons held by armed factions under state control, according to a report by Sky News Arabia.

The prime minister said Oct. 1 marks a serious start to addressing weapons outside government authority, a declaration that came one day after international coalition forces completed their withdrawal from the country.

He affirmed that decisions over war and peace remain the exclusive preserve of Iraq's constitutional authorities, underscoring the government's position that no faction outside the state should hold independent military power.

The effort to rein in non-state armed groups has been a longstanding challenge for Baghdad, where various factions have maintained arms and influence alongside formal state security forces. Additional details on enforcement mechanisms or factional responses were not included in the available reporting.