Muqtada al-Sadr Separates Saraya al-Salam From Movement, Iraqi PM Urges Other Armed Groups to Follow

Peregraf- Muqtada al-Sadr announced the complete separation of the armed group Saraya al-Salam from his National Shiite Movement and called for its full integration into the Iraqi state structure.

The announcement was welcomed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, who described the move as "an important step toward strengthening internal stability" and urged other armed factions to take similar measures.

Sadr Calls for Integration Into the State

In a statement issued Tuesday, Sadr said the decision was made "based on the public interest of the nation and to avoid the dangers surrounding the country."

"It has become necessary for us to announce the complete separation of Saraya al-Salam from the National Shiite Movement and their full integration into the state and under the authority of the general official in charge of military formations," Sadr stated.

He added that civilian branches associated with the group would be transformed into "Al-Bunyan Al-Marsous" without military structures, headquarters, uniforms, or weapons.

Sadr also called on other factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces to distance themselves from "partisan and sectarian orders."

"It is my hope that all formations of the Hashd will separate themselves from partisan and sectarian orders, especially after the factions hand over their weapons to the state," he said.

Iraqi PM Welcomes Decision

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, who also serves as commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, praised Sadr’s announcement and framed it as support for strengthening state authority.

"We commend the responsible national position announced by Sayyid Muqtada al-Sadr regarding the integration of Saraya al-Salam formations into the state and placing them under the authority of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces," Zaidi said.

He stated that the initiative supports "state sovereignty and the rule of law" and reinforces the principle of restricting weapons to the state.

Call for Other Armed Groups to Follow

Zaidi also publicly called on other Iraqi armed factions to follow the same path.

"We call on all armed factions to follow the same responsible national path and operate under the umbrella of the state and its official institutions," he said.

The prime minister added that Iraq’s current situation requires prioritizing "the supreme national interest" and strengthening citizens’ trust in state institutions.

Debate Over Weapons and State Authority

The issue of armed groups operating outside direct state control has remained one of Iraq’s most sensitive political and security challenges since the rise of the Islamic State and the expansion of the PMF after 2014.

Successive Iraqi governments have repeatedly pledged to strengthen state authority and regulate weapons under official military institutions, while major Iran-linked armed factions continue to maintain significant independent influence.