Leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali speaks to the press after casting his vote at a polling station during the early general elections in Baghdad, Iraq on 10 October 2021. [Getty]
Qais al-Khazali, leader of the Iran-aligned militia Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, a Shia militia group that’s part of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), has dismissed calls for armed factions in Iraq to lay down their weapons. Defending their continued presence, he argued that the militias’ arms are “disciplined” and play a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s security.Â
His remarks come as the Iraqi government, under increasing pressure from the United States, pushes to disarm the militias and integrate them into state security forces. However, these efforts have so far not led to tangible results.Â
Speaking on state-run Iraqi television on Sunday evening, al-Khazali declared, “There is no such thing as dismantling the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).” He stressed that “the weapons of the factions have never been used in internal conflicts; they are disciplined and serve to protect Iraq’s sovereignty.”
Al-Khazali warned that disarming these militias would compromise Iraq‘s defensive capabilities. He pointed to their pivotal role in countering ISIS in 2014, arguing, “If there were guarantees of long-term security and stability, I would accept the idea of disarmament. But the threats remain.”
He also raised concerns over perceived security threats from Israel and Turkey. “Israeli warplanes can enter Iraqi airspace at will, striking targets as they please. Can Iraq defend itself?” he questioned. “Turkey also launches airstrikes in northern Iraq whenever it chooses. These are the realities we face.”
Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, led by al-Khazali, is part of the PMF, a paramilitary umbrella organisation that has played a key role in Iraq’s security landscape. Additionally, al-Khazali is aligned with the Shia Coordination Framework, the dominant coalition supporting Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani’s government.
Linking disarmament to national sovereignty
Al-Khazali insisted that any debate on militia disarmament must be contingent on Iraq achieving full sovereignty. “Only when Iraq can make its own sovereign decisions without foreign interference, and when we possess a capable air defence system—regardless of US approval—can we discuss this matter,” he stated.
He also emphasised that the militias’ weapons had been used exclusively against US forces between 2003 and 2011, rather than against any local or foreign entities outside that period.
In January, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani announced plans to incorporate armed factions into Iraq‘s official security institutions. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein later confirmed that the government had opened talks with these groups, hoping to persuade them to relinquish their arms and merge into the state’s security framework.
However, al-Khazali’s firm opposition highlights the difficulties the government faces in asserting control over these influential Iraqi militias, particularly against the backdrop of regional tensions and international scrutiny.
