Iraqi Shiite militia Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq to hand over arms to state

BAGHDAD,— The Iraqi paramilitary and political movement Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, also known as the Khazali Network, announced Tuesday the creation of a senior central committee charged with separating its organizational structure from the pro-Iran Shiite Popular Mobilization Forces and transferring full control of its assets to the Iraqi state.

An official statement on Tuesday said the group intends to document all its personnel and assets before handing over full operational authority to the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

The decision was described as consistent with long-standing religious decrees and national security frameworks that restrict weapons possession exclusively to state institutions.

The movement’s leadership named Haj Jawad al-Talibawi to head the new committee.

The body holds sweeping authority to carry out all administrative and practical steps needed to complete the separation.

Its responsibilities include conducting a full inventory of all personnel, weapons, vehicles, equipment and logistical assets held by the group.

The committee’s stated goal is to structurally align those assets with the office of the Commander-in-Chief and ensure full compliance with state regulations and the requirements of Iraq’s official security institutions.

The movement said the decision responds directly to directives from the Supreme Religious Authority, known as the Marjaiya, based in Najaf.

The group also said the step reflects positions championed by political blocs within the Coordination Framework.

Additionally, the statement noted the move brings to life a declaration made by the group’s Secretary-General, Sheikh Qais al-Khazali, on December 13, 2017, when he publicly stated his intent to dismantle the group’s paramilitary wings following the territorial defeat of the Islamic State.

Al-Khazali said at that time that all arms control should rest solely with the Iraqi state.

The announcement arrived amid sharply contrasting moves by other armed factions operating in Iraq.

The Iraqi Shiite pro-Iran group Kataib Hezbollah said on May 30 it rejected handing weapons over to the state and would continue what it called jihadist action.

That position came as Iraq’s government faces sustained pressure from the United States to disarm Iran-backed factions.

Separately, influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr announced on May 27, 2026, he was cutting formal ties between his Sadrist movement and its armed wing, Saraya al-Salam, ordering militia fighters to be placed under state authority.

The action supports national and international demands to restrict arms to Iraqi state forces only.

(With files from Agencies