Two Iran-backed Iraqi militias announce plans to hand weapons to state authorities amid broader push for state control
On June 2, 2026, Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Imam Ali Brigades announced they would begin transferring control of their weapons and personnel to the Iraqi government, forming committees to coordinate with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The moves follow a similar announcement by Muqtada al-Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam militia one week prior. Both groups cited directives from Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework. While Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s new government promotes a state monopoly on force under U.S. pressure, other Iran-aligned factions, including Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have rejected disarmament, citing sovereignty concerns. The broader regional conflict has highlighted the fragility of Iraqi state institutions and the complex relationship between militias, the state budget, and foreign influence.
While all three sources report the core event — a major Iran-backed militia moving toward state integration — AP News provides the broadest scope by including a second militia’s announcement, whereas CTV News and ABC News offer greater balance by noting ongoing resistance from other factions. AP News’s framing suggests a more decisive shift but lacks critical perspective on obstacles. CTV News and ABC News, though narrower in scope, present a more nuanced political landscape.
- ✓ Asaib Ahl al-Haq has announced it will begin placing its weapons under government control.
- ✓ A committee has been formed to inventory fighters, weapons, and equipment and coordinate with the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
- ✓ The decision is framed as a response to calls from Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Coordination Framework.
- ✓ The broader regional conflict has exposed weaknesses in Iraq’s state institutions.
- ✓ There has been a confrontation between U.S. forces and Iran-backed militias, including attacks on U.S. assets prior to a tenuous April ceasefire.
- ✓ Muqtada al-Sadr’s Saraya al-Salam militia announced integration into state institutions one week earlier.
- ✓ Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, recently sworn in, is under U.S. pressure to assert state monopoly over weapons.
- ✓ The Trump administration has tied defense cooperation and funding to efforts to curb Iran-linked factions.
- ✓ Many Iran-backed militias are funded through the Iraqi state budget but remain outside government control.
- ✓ The U.S. and other countries have criticized Baghdad for failing to rein in these groups.
Number of militias involved
Reports decisions by both Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Imam Ali Brigades
Reports only Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s decision
Reports only Asaib Ahl al-Haq’s decision
Framing of the conflict's origin
Explicitly states 'the United States and Israel launched' the war on Iran on Feb. 28
Describe general regional war context without assigning initiation
Tone and implication of progress
More optimistic, emphasizing dual militia announcements and use of sovereignty rhetoric
Neutral to cautious, noting resistance from other militias
Militia dissent
Omits any mention of dissenting factions
Include information about Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba rejecting disarmament
CTV News
Framing: Frames the announcement by Asaib Ahl al-Haq as a significant but isolated development within a broader political struggle over state authority in Iraq, emphasizing internal Iraqi dynamics and regional power competition.
Tone: Analytical and politically contextualized, with a focus on structural tensions between state institutions, militias, and foreign influence.
Framing by Emphasis: Focuses on Asaib Ahl al-Haq as 'one of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed armed groups,' highlighting its significance while omitting mention of the Imam Ali Brigades' parallel announcement.
"One of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed armed groups said Tuesday it would begin putting its weapons under government control"
Omission: Fails to mention the Imam Ali Brigades' simultaneous announcement of disarmament, reducing the perception of a broader trend among Iran-aligned groups.
"Asaib Ahl al-Haq said it had formed a committee..."
Narrative Framing: Positions the decision within a narrative of religious authority (top Shiite cleric) and political bloc (Coordination Framework) influence, suggesting internal legitimacy rather than external pressure.
"The group cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework"
Balanced Reporting: Acknowledges dissenting positions among other militias like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, providing a more complete picture of factional divisions.
"Two important groups, Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba, have rejected disarmament, tying the issue to Iraq’s sovereignty and the presence of foreign troops."
ABC News
Framing: Presents the event nearly identically to CTV News, framing it as a politically significant step in consolidating state authority amid militia autonomy and external pressures.
Tone: Identical in tone to CTV News — detached, analytical, and focused on institutional fragility and geopolitical context.
Framing by Emphasis: Like CTV News, highlights Asaib Ahl al-Haq alone, ignoring the Imam Ali Brigades' announcement despite identical content.
"One of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed armed groups said Tuesday it would begin putting its weapons under government control"
Omission: Fails to report the second militia’s participation, despite being published only minutes after CTV News and containing identical text.
"Asaib Ahl al-Haq said it had formed a committee to oversee the move"
Proper Attribution: Accurately attributes statements to named actors (e.g., Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Muqtada al-Sadr, Al-Zaidi) without editorializing.
"Under pressure from Washington, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has been working to assert state authority over weapons."
Comprehensive Sourcing: References multiple actors: militias, religious leadership, government, and foreign powers, offering a multi-perspective view.
"The group cast the decision as a response to calls by Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority and the Iran-aligned Coordination Framework"
AP News
Framing: Frames the event as a broader shift involving multiple major militias, positioning it as a potential turning point in Iraq’s state-building efforts.
Tone: Slightly more optimistic and forward-looking, emphasizing institutional strengthening and sovereignty-building language from the militias themselves.
Framing by Emphasis: Opens with 'Two of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed militias,' immediately establishing a wider scope than the other two sources.
"Two of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-backed militias said on Tuesday they would begin handing in their weapons to authorities"
Cherry-Picking: Includes only positive statements from the Imam Ali Brigades about building 'a strong state with full sovereignty,' omitting any critical analysis of feasibility or sincerity.
"It added that its aim was now to have weapons only with the state and help boost state institutions."
Narrative Framing: Uses active language ('handed in,' 'rein in') suggesting momentum toward centralization of power, contrasting with the more cautious tone of the others.
"a major step in the new government’s effort to rein in militias that have long operated on their own"
Vague Attribution: Refers to 'the United States and Israel' launching war on Iran without specifying actions or timeline, potentially oversimplifying complex events.
"The war in the Middle East, which the United States and Israel launched on Feb. 28 with strikes on Iran"
AP News
Includes the most actors (two militias), includes direct quotes from a second group (Imam Ali Brigades), and uses active framing that suggests momentum. However, omits dissenting voices.
CTV News
Provides balanced context by including both pro-integration and anti-disarmament positions, though misses second militia announcement.
ABC News
Identical to CTV News in content and completeness; tied for second place.
Powerful Iran-backed militias in Iraq say they will start handing in weapons to authorities
Powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia says it will start handing its weapons to the state
Powerful Iran-backed Iraqi militia says it will start handing its weapons to the state