Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has reportedly issued an ultimatum to Iran-aligned armed militias operating in the country: surrender their weapons to the state by September 30 or risk a confrontation with Iraqi government forces.

Two Iraqi political sources said al-Zaidi has informed political leaders that he is prepared to confront armed factions that refuse to disarm after the deadline.

The Iraqi government has already developed a plan to forcibly restrict and eventually dismantle the militias’ independent military capabilities if they fail to comply, according to the Saudi-aligned Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

Under the reported plan, regular Iraqi Army troops, Counter Terrorism Service forces and elite units would deploy around militia strongholds and along roads leading to their positions. Security forces would restrict the movement of vehicles and supplies before gradually establishing monitoring units tasked with tracking and confiscating weapons, with a particular focus on drones and missiles.

Authorities reportedly hope the pressure will convince the militias to abandon their positions and turn them over to government forces without bloodshed.

The plan is said to focus heavily on two militia strongholds south of Baghdad: Jurf al-Sakhar, a stronghold of Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah, and Jurf al-Naddaf, associated with the Iran-backed Harakat al-Nujaba.

Iraqi sources said elements of the plan are already being tested, with military and counterterrorism forces deploying officers to observation posts along several roads earlier this week. Security forces have also reportedly intercepted shipments of drones traveling to various locations in Iraq in recent weeks.

Meanwhile, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani said Iranian officials have expressed willingness to assist Baghdad with efforts to bring militia weapons under state control.

Barzani said that during recent talks in Tehran, Iranian officials told him to inform al-Zaidi that they were “ready to help him” with the issue.

The September 30 deadline sets up a potentially major showdown between Baghdad and powerful Iran-backed armed groups that have maintained extensive military capabilities outside the direct control of the Iraqi state.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)