The Militia Digest
Kadhim al-Fartousi (KSS — spokesman) was quoted by iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) as saying on 3 October that 30 June was not a weapons-handover date. The channel’s headline also rejected merger and handover. That differs from The New Region’s 1 October report that KSS had committed to disarm by the end of June 2027. KSS’s own statement that day committed to the agreement and the commander-in-chief’s address unless the other party breached its obligations. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi had set 30 June 2027 for completing state control of weapons.
In Baghdad, Sabereen News (KH — affiliated) reported on 3 October that PMF member Dhirgham Abu Ragheef had been arrested. It attributed his arrest to trampling American and Israeli flags during the Sovereignty Day celebration, held on Thursday to celebrate the coalition withdrawal. Al-Zaidi on Sunday ordered an investigation into the US-flag incident at the parade. His spokesman Sabah al-Numan said the prime minister condemned the act and stressed compliance with laws and diplomatic norms. Al-Zaidi also directed that those responsible be held accountable.
Sadiqoun General Assembly member Nour Jafat (AAH — Sadiqoun) made completed sovereignty conditional on passing the PMF law, speaking on Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official). That differs from al-Zaidi’s 30 September declaration that sovereignty was complete with the end of the coalition’s military mission. Reconstruction and Development Coalition member Ammar Yasser al-Janabi said his coalition was working with Sadiqoun for prompt passage. Israa Najm (AAH — Sadiqoun General Assembly member) urged treatment of the PMF like other government institutions. Shafaqna Iraq reported that passage of the 18-article bill depended on substantial amendments to secure agreement among political blocs. The legislative step remains cabinet referral, not parliamentary passage.
Payment complaints accompanied the legislative demands: iNEWS carried Ahmad Karim al-Dalfi’s call for the Finance Ministry to explain reported cuts or suspensions of Article 54 entitlements. His post requested an urgent official statement setting out any action and its legal grounds. He sought protection for wounded personnel, retirees and martyrs’ families, alongside parliamentary, constitutional and legal follow-up. In a separate programme caption, iNEWS alleged that injured security personnel were without allowances.
Separately, Sabereen News and Unit 10,000 (KH — affiliated) alleged that Azm’s Planning Ministry nominee had relatives belonging to terrorist organizations and corruption convictions in absentia. Unit 10,000 identified the nominee as Saddam Hussein Habib Abd al-Tamimi. Its displayed letter appears to describe a six-year sentence followed by release under a Federal Court of Cassation decision. The captions mentioned the conviction but omitted the subsequent release. Al-Fartousi meanwhile forecast Monday as the expected date for completing the cabinet, after iNEWS reported that absent consensus was delaying completion.
On Iranian aviation, Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) credited Nujaba supporters on 3 October with reopening Iraq’s skies to Iran. Nujaba had held a sit-in at Najaf airport on 28 September against restrictions on Iranian flights. Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein instead announced on 2 October that U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had approved a pilgrimage-flight exemption from sanctions on Iranian aviation. Hussein attributed the exemption to bilateral talks.