Analyses

STRATEGIECS Team

Aug 11, 2026

The Iraqi government’s plan to restrict arms to the state faces significant challenges due to the complexity of the political and security landscape. The government seeks to end the phenomenon of uncontrolled weapons by September 2026, but the positions of armed factions continue to vary between acceptance and rejection. Some factions’ rejection is linked to internal and external factors, including Iranian influence, tensions with the United States, and developments in Syria, in addition to their extensive political, military, and economic influence. The implementation of the plan is likely to continue to be delayed due to the issue’s connection to political balances within Iraq and regional and international influences.