5 November 2025
Iraq will only be able to disarm its militias after US troops leave the country, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani told Reuters in an interview on Monday.
Sudani’s comments come ahead of Iraq’s highly anticipated parliamentary elections on 11 November.
Sudani is balancing between Washington, which is critical for Iraq’s dollar transactions, and neighbouring Iran, which backs a constellation of mainly Shia militias called the Popular Mobilisation Forces.
Sudani is courting public support ahead of elections as he seeks a second term in office.
“There is no ISIS. Security and stability? Thank God it’s there … so give me the excuse for the presence of 86 states,” he told Reuters in an interview in Baghdad, referring to the number of countries that joined the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group in 2014.
“Then, for sure, there will be a clear programme to end any arms outside of state institutions. This is the demand of all,” he said.
US troops began withdrawing from two key Iraqi bases over the summer.
In September 2024, Reuters reported that US and Iraqi negotiators had agreed on a plan during the Biden administration to end the US military presence, which just required the sign-off of leaders in Baghdad and Washington.
According to Reuters, the plan called for all US-led coalition forces to leave Ain al-Asad air base in western Anbar province and significantly reduce their presence in Baghdad by September 2025.
Sudani said that militias could become absorbed into the state’s official security forces or their members could enter politics after laying down their arms.
Source: MEE
