War and Peace in State Hands.. Iraq Seeks to Disarm Iran-Loyal Factions
Iraqi officials' statements show clear determination to confront Iranian influence and end the phenomenon of armed militias outside state framework
January 16, 2025, 8:44 pm

War and Peace in State Hands.. Iraq Seeks to Disarm Iran-Loyal Factions

مليشيات عراقية

Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein revealed his government's efforts to convince Iran-linked militias to either surrender their weapons or integrate into official security institutions.

Hussein emphasized in statements Thursday the rejection of continued weapons proliferation outside state control, confirming his country's keenness to develop solid relations with the United States under elected President Donald Trump. The Iraqi minister expressed his country's concerns about ISIS activity in Syrian territories, pointing to counter-terrorism priority.

These statements aligned with Interior Minister Abdul-Amir Al-Shammari's confirmation on Sunday that the decision of war is exclusively in the hands of the Armed Forces Commander, highlighting a specific timeline for implementing a campaign to restrict weapons to state control.

Al-Shammari clarified that all military and security formations, including the Popular Mobilization Forces, are subject to the orders of the Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief. The minister highlighted governmental and public consensus on rejecting the continued presence of loose weapons, indicating his ministry's preparations to take over security from the army and Popular Mobilization Forces.

He revealed that thousands of citizens registered their weapons at police stations during 2024, announcing the extension of the registration period into 2025, noting public engagement with the initiative.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani previously confirmed his country's refusal to be drawn into regional conflicts, referring to Iranian tensions with the United States and Israel.

Iraqi authorities have feared, since the outbreak of confrontations in Gaza in October 2023, the involvement of pro-Tehran militias in the conflict, similar to Lebanese Hezbollah, which could drag the country into devastating conflicts.

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”