Al-Araji Denies Deadline Set for State Weapons Control Efforts

Iraqi Prime Minister’s Adviser Qasim Al-Araji on Friday denied reports that a specific deadline had been set for the committee tasked with bringing weapons under state control, stressing that such claims circulating on social media are inaccurate.

Al-Araji said the committee operates under the direct supervision of the Prime Minister and that, once its work is completed and weapons are fully brought under state control, illegal possession of weapons will be dealt with in accordance with the law.

The clarification comes ahead of September 30, the scheduled end of the international coalition’s mission in Iraq, amid continued debate over the future of weapons held by armed factions, which reject treating the date as a binding deadline for disarmament.