Asaib Ahl Al Haq leader Qais Al Khazali gives a speech. The group is set to hand over its arms to the Iraqi state. EPAAsaib Ahl Al Haq leader Qais Al Khazali gives a speech. The group is set to hand over its arms to the Iraqi state. EPAAsaib Ahl Al Haq says it will disengage from Popular Mobilisation ForcesHeadphonesBookmarkIran-backed militia Asaib Ahl Al Haq (AAH) said it has begun implementing a decision to disengage from the Popular Mobilisation Forces and place all of its weapons under state control, in a rare public move by one of Iraq’s most powerful armed factions.In a statement on Tuesday, the group said the decision had followed a call from Iraq’s top Shiite spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani, and government demands to ensure a state monopoly on arms.To carry out the directive, AAH said it had formed a central committee with the task of fulfilling all requirements for the handover, including carrying out an inventory of personnel, weapons, vehicles, equipment and logistics. It will also co-ordinate directly with the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces to fulfil the requirements of state and security institutions.The announcement comes amid renewed pressure from Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi’s government to integrate or disarm Iran-backed militias operating under the PMF umbrella. AAH is one of the largest and most influential factions within the PMF, and is designated by the US as a terrorist organisation. If implemented, the move would mark a significant shift in the group’s formal relationship with the state, although similar pledges by other factions in recent years have led to limited results.AAH did not provide a timeline for completing the inventory or transferring its weapons.Updated: June 02, 2026, 9:49 AMMost popular today12345678910