Kataib Hezbollah and Nujaba Refuse Disarmament; PMF Splits into Compliant and Hardline Blocs

Kataib Hezbollah (KH) and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba — two of the most powerful and Iran-directed factions within Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces — flatly rejected disarmament and integration into Iraqi state authority, creating a historic schism in the PMF. Kataib Hezbollah rejected full disarmament and expressed intent to acquire heavy weaponry — specifically drones, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, and anti-armor systems — surrendered by disarming factions. Harakat al-Nujaba called disarmament demands the behavior of 'an occupying power.' Both groups conditioned any future disarmament consideration on the full withdrawal of the remaining US-led coalition from the Kurdistan Region, scheduled for September 2026. The Soufan Center assessed that Iraq's disarmament drive 'could stall' since the compliant factions — Saraya al-Salam (Sadr), Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib al-Imam Ali — represent lower battlefield capacity than the refusing factions. The PMF has thus effectively split between: (1) Groups accepting state integration: Sadr's movement, AAH, and Kataib al-Imam Ali; and (2) Hardliners maintaining autonomous Iranian-directed operations: KH, Nujaba, and associated groups. PM Zaidi formed a government oversight committee to manage weapons integration from compliant factions, while acknowledging the impasse with hardliners. Iran's IRGC-Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani had visited Baghdad in May to consult on the evolving militia posture, and Iran appears to be calibrating its strategy to allow softer factions to demonstrate compliance while preserving hardline assets for deterrence. US Envoy Tom Barrack publicly criticized KH's refusal while welcoming the compliant factions' pledges.