The Iraq Joint Operations Command announced that the records of fighters, weapons, equipment, and vehicles belonging to Kataib Imam Ali have been handed over to a special committee managing the integration and separation process into the security forces. The procedure carried out in Baghdad is seen as a step toward reorganizing the group within the state structure.
The command stated that the work is being conducted in line with the government program approved by the Council of Representatives. The process is overseen by Lieutenant General Kays al-Mohammedavi, the committee chairman, with participation from committee members and the group's leadership.
Officials expressed that these steps aim to complete the integration phases, reorganize the forces, and remove the separate names and titles of these formations. This is intended to bring the weapons and personnel structure under direct state control.
It was also reported that an agreement was reached to establish a joint committee within the framework of the understanding between Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Imam Ali. This committee is expected to coordinate the transfer of weapons to state control within 48 hours.
Al-Zaidi reiterated his government's commitment to this process in a statement on Tuesday. The Coordination Framework also supports the state's monopoly on weapons and calls for the separation of the Popular Mobilization Forces from political, partisan, and social ties.
However, some armed groups reject calls for separation. Kataib Hezbollah and Ashab al-Kahf oppose these steps, while Harakat al-Nujaba argues that the state's monopoly on weapons exerts pressure on resistance groups and the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Kataib Imam Ali emerged during the mobilization period following Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's call to fight ISIS in 2014. The group operates as the 40th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces and maintains ideological closeness to Iran.
This process in Baghdad brings the debate on how armed formations in Iraq will be integrated into the state structure back to the forefront. The government's approach centers on bringing weapons under central control and closing separate formations.
