On 8 September, commander-in-chief spokesman Sabah al-Numan said the international coalition’s scheduled 30 September withdrawal would remove the justification for armed groups retaining weapons outside state institutions. KSS spokesman Kadhim al-Fartousi subsequently said weapons surrender would not be considered before guarantees protecting Iraq’s territory, airspace, political decision-making and economic independence, describing the formula as “weapons in exchange for sovereignty.”
- Kurdistan2408 Sept, 14:49
“The withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq will remove any remaining justification for armed groups to retain weapons outside official state institutions.”
The withdrawal of international coalition forces from Iraq will remove any remaining justification for armed groups to retain weapons outside official state institutions.
- شفق نيوز09 Sept, 00:14
“The equation is “weapons in exchange for sovereignty,” and giving up weapons will not be considered before guarantees protecting Iraq’s territory and airspace, political decision-making, and economic independence.”
المعادلة "السلاح مقابل السيادة"، وأن التخلي عن السلاح لن يكون مطروحاً قبل ضمان حماية الأراضي والأجواء والقرار السياسي والاستقلال الاقتصادي للعراق
The divergence leaves the government’s post-withdrawal weapons position and KSS’s surrender conditions incompatible unless Baghdad supplies guarantees broad enough to satisfy KSS’s four stated requirements.