ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi leaders on Wednesday welcomed influential Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr’s decision to integrate his armed group into the Iraqi state, reiterating calls for all armed factions to follow suit as part of the country’s ongoing efforts to restrict weapons to official institutions.

Earlier on Wednesday, Sadr, head of the National Shiite Movement, announced the “complete separation” of his armed faction Saraya al-Salam from his party and its “complete integration” within the Iraqi state forces.

Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi commended the move in a statement, calling it a “responsible national position” in support of “state institutions and the consolidation of state sovereignty and the rule of law.”

Zaidi asserted that Sadr’s initiative represents an “important step towards strengthening internal stability, reinforcing the principle of restricting weapons to the state, and supporting the security forces in carrying out their national and constitutional duties.”

The premier further called on “all armed factions” in the country to “follow the same responsible national path” and operate as a part of the state, “based on the principle that the state is the sole authority entitled to monopolize arms and enforce the law.”

Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi similarly welcomed the initiative, dubbing it a step in support of “the prestige of the state, strengthening stability, and consolidating the rule of law.”

He also called for the continuation of “responsible national steps that contribute to restricting weapons to the state, adhering to the constitution and the law, [and] sparing the country any tensions or divisions.”

Sadr’s announcement comes weeks after he expressed willingness earlier in the month to hand over his faction to then-Prime Minister-designate Ali al-Zaidi’s government cabinet, saying that any other group that does not follow suit “should be considered outside the law.”

The prominent Shiite figure also called on Zaidi at the time to “completely exclude” any politician affiliated with an armed group from his cabinet selection.

Illegal weapons in Iraq stand out as one of the most pressing challenges to security and stability. Unofficial data puts the number of arms within Iraqi society at around 15 million medium and light weapons, with armed groups and tribes possessing the bulk of them.

Earlier in May, Zaidi released his program for the next government. A copy of the program seen by The New Region shows that the “first pillar” of the state sovereignty section includes “restricting arms to the hands of the state” as Baghdad continues efforts to tighten gun ownership.

Sadr has previously founded multiple armed factions operating outside of state control himself, including the Jaish al-Mahdi (Mahdi Army), which was founded in 2003 to confront the US occupation of Iraq and disbanded in 2008. The group was partially revived under the name of Saraya al-Salam in 2014, which he continued to lead to this day.