The Militia Digest

Ali al-Asadi (Nujaba — political council head) told Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) that Nujaba had agreed with Coordination Framework leaders to organize weapons rather than surrender them. He said the Framework had shifted from restricting weapons to regulating them. Maj. Gen. Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, said weapons would not be permitted outside state control. He set no deadline for talks with factions but said they would accelerate after the coalition mission ends. Al-Ghadeer TV (Badr Organization — official), iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) and Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) carried September 30 as the final coalition deadline, with Watan calling the withdrawal an expression of government will and sovereignty. Reuters reported that Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had pledged to disarm factions by that date, while security adviser Qasim al-Araji said it applied only to the coalition. A Middle East Council on Global Affairs analysis placed AAH on the willing side and Kataib Hezbollah on the refusing side, but neither faction stated that position itself. September 30 is fixed for the coalition mission, not for the weapons dialogue.

Qaisar al-Jourani (AAH — Sadiqoun MP) said the Framework had agreed to four deputy prime ministers and that Sadiqoun wanted the Interior Ministry. He said the cabinet map would be reconsidered if al-Zaidi’s proposed deputies were not approved. Muhammad al-Baldawi (AAH — Sadiqoun spokesman and MP) said the points system entitled Sadiqoun to two ministries. Political analyst Muhammad al-Fandi named Interior and Labour as the alternative allocation if the deputy-premier plan failed. State of Law Coalition leader Bilal al-Nasiri said his coalition would not lead opposition to the posts, while Reconstruction and Development Coalition leader Mashriq al-Furaiji . All treated as still under Framework discussion, but differed over what Sadiqoun would receive if the posts failed.