ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s ruling coalition met on Wednesday to discuss a host of topics and doubled down on an end-September deadline for armed groups to hand over weapons to the state, stressing that elements using Iraqi territory as a launching pad for attacks must be considered “outlaws.” 

The meeting of Iraq’s State Administration Coalition was chaired by Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and included several high-profile officials, such as Supreme Judicial Council President Faiq Zidan, parliament speaker Haibat al-Halbousi, and Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdistan Region. 

It came after Zaidi concluded his official visit to Turkey and after joint US-Saudi strikes on Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) bases last week in Iraq. The attacks, which killed at least 20 PMF members, were vehemently condemned by the Iraqi government and political forces.

“The coalition stressed the importance of preventing the use of Iraqi territory as a launching pad for attacks against neighboring countries or for dragging Iraq into conflicts that do not serve its people’s interests,” a statement from Zaidi’s office said following the meeting. 

During the meeting, the State Administration Coalition considered those who use Iraq’s territory to launch attacks against neighboring countries as “outlaws who must be combated,” stressing that the moves constitute “crimes that threaten the country’s security.” 

The attendees notably reinforced the deadline for armed groups to hand over weapons to the state, set for September 30, stressing that after the deadline, “any armed activity outside the framework of the state will be dealt with under the Counter-Terrorism Law.” 

Just over a week ago, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and Saudi Arabia carried out intense strikes against militias in Iraq allegedly responsible for attacks on Saudi oil facilities in the days before, accusing the factions of acting at the behest of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). 

US President Donald Trump said the American-Saudi strikes had been coordinated with the Iraqi government during a private interview with Fox News. However, the Iraqi government officially denied foreknowledge of the attacks. 

Zaidi had been expected in Riyadh following his Ankara trip, but the visit was delayed following the airstrikes. 

The attendees of the State Administration Coalition meeting “condemned the attacks on Iraqi armed forces units and the martyrdom of a number of their members,” according to the statement from Zaidi’s office. 

“The meeting affirmed Iraq's support for efforts to de-escalate tensions and promote dialogue in the region, its rejection of the use of force in resolving conflicts, and its readiness to play a positive role in bridging the gaps between conflicting parties,” the statement added. 

The disarmament of armed groups in Iraq is also set to coincide with the withdrawal of the US-led coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) from Iraq, per an agreement between Washington and Baghdad.

While several pro-Iran armed factions have announced their willingness to hand over their weapons and integrate into the state security apparatus, others have expressed skepticism. 

The disarmament initiative is heavily backed by Washington, which has long pushed for the groups – many of which have strong ties to Iran – to be disarmed.