Iraq's judicial chief says some local militias agree to disarm, transition to politics

Alsharq Tribune-Ahmed Essam 

Head of Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Faiq Zidan said Saturday that several armed factions have agreed to surrender their weapons to the state and transition into political entities.

Zidan thanked "the leaders of the factions, for responding to his advice to cooperate in enforcing the rule of law, confining weapons to the state's hands, and transitioning to political action after the national need for military action has ceased," read an SJC statement.

According to statements and media reports, Shiite militias such as Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Ansar Allah al-Awfiya have voiced their cooperation in restricting arms to the state.

However, Kata'ib Hezbollah, another Shiite militia, declined to join the immediate disarmament, setting stringent conditions. The group said in a statement that negotiations with the government would only commence after the withdrawal of U.S., NATO, and Turkish forces from Iraqi territory.

During a phone conversation with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani on Oct. 21, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged "disarming Iran-backed militias that undermine Iraq's sovereignty, threaten the lives and businesses of Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraqi resources for Iran," according to a statement by the U.S. State Department.