Al-Sadr Integrates Armed Wing into Iraqi State Amid US-Backed Disarmament Push

Muqtada al-Sadr announced the complete separation of his armed wing, Saraya al-Salam, from his political movement and its full integration into Iraq's state security forces on May 27, 2026. Sadr stated the decision was based on the public interest and the need to preserve national sovereignty, and he called on all armed groups within the Popular Mobilization Forces to disarm and distance themselves from sectarian systems.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi welcomed the move as a responsible national stance and a critical step toward internal stability and the state's monopoly on weapons. Al-Zaidi urged all armed factions to follow suit by operating under state institutions. His government is leading a broader program to restrict weapons to the state and is currently developing an executive project to restructure the Popular Mobilization Forces and remove heavy weaponry from armed factions. Al-Zaidi's government is also considering creating a security ministry to bring the Popular Mobilization Forces and other bodies under a single state structure.

The disarmament push occurs amid significant pressure from the United States, specifically the Trump administration, for Baghdad to curb Iranian influence and disarm Iran-backed militias. Washington has reportedly tied future defense cooperation and funding to Iraq's efforts to reduce the role of groups operating independently of the government. While some factions have shown readiness to cooperate, groups such as Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba have rejected disarmament requests, arguing their resistance weapons should not be targeted. Other factions refuse to discuss disarmament under U.S. pressure, complicating the government's consolidation of military authority.