Iran-Backed Badr Organisation Warns Iraq of Civil War Over Forced Disarmament Deadline

A powerful Iranian-backed militia on Friday issued a stern warning to Iraq's government, stating that any use of force to disarm armed groups ahead of a September 30 deadline could trigger severe internal conflict.

Mohammed Naji, head of the Badr Organisation's political office, stated that forcible disarmament would spark a civil war and widen sectarian divisions within Iraq. He criticized Prime Minister Al Al Zaidi for moving too hastily under alleged pressure from the US. In a post on X, Mr Naji condemned hints of force as a dangerous overstep that would primarily benefit the United States, the Zionist entity, and other adversaries.

To restrict weapons exclusively to state authority, Mr Naji outlined three strict conditions: the complete withdrawal of US forces, the elimination of strategic threats to Iraq, and the full development of the Iraqi armed forces, particularly air defences.

These remarks follow a recent visit to Baghdad by Brig Gen Esmail Qaani, commander of Iran’s elite Quds Force. According to sources close to Iran-backed militia and political factions, Mr Qaani met with militia leaders and politicians to negotiate a settlement that would preserve their weapons and avert a clash with the government. Sources noted that keeping the weapons is essential for the groups, though they could potentially be frozen rather than surrendered.

The Badr Organisation, operating since the early 1980s, is a Shiite political party and paramilitary force that belongs to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of hardline Shiite factions.

Prime Minister Al Al Zaidi has pledged to disarm Iran-backed militias since taking office in May. Facing a September 30 deadline, he asked parliament’s Defence and Security Committee to draft a bill placing all weapons under state control and warned that defiant groups would face counter-terrorism charges. This deadline coincides with the scheduled departure of US troops from their final base in the Kurdistan Region. On Wednesday, Mr Al Zaidi reaffirmed that the US-led coalition's military mission will conclude by September 30, leaving Iraq free of foreign military forces from October 1.