Conducive Situation, Iraqi PM Calls Use Of Weapons Back Under State Control

JAKARTA - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said there was no reason for the use of weapons outside state institutions. This is considering the country's situation which is getting better.

Shia insists that the move is not aimed at certain groups or individuals.

Speaking at a tribal meeting in Baghdad to commemorate the 1920 uprising against British rule, al-Sudani stated that his government puts forward a service' approach as a priority, by making field visits to various provinces to monitor projects and meet the needs of citizens.

He praised the role of Iraqi tribes in shaping political life and helping end difficult times, as well as emphasizing that "placeing all weapons under state control, upholding the rule of law, and fighting corruption" are demands voiced by religious authorities and civil society, and unnegotiable.

"In a stable environment, there is no reason for weapons to be outside state institutions, and the tribes must support the authority of the law and the judiciary," he said, quoted by VOI from ANTARA, August 10.

Although al-Sudani did not mention certain groups, political observers viewed his statement as a signal to armed factions operating outside the country's authority.

The statement comes amid debates in Lebanon over the discourse of placing all weapons under state control.

The Lebanese government is preparing plans to limit arms possession to only the national armed forces before the end of the year. This move was strongly rejected by Hezbollah, who considered the plan politically motivated and in line with pressure from Israel and the United States.

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has ordered the military to prepare a roadmap for the implementation of the plan, while President Joseph Aoun launched a broader national proposal, including the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the release of prisoners, and the full control of the country over weapons.

Hezbollah called the move a "big sin" and ignored the existence of the group "as if nothing."