Between 17:53 and 18:57 on 18 August, Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) published four segments carrying support for state control of weapons: Water Resources Minister Muthanna al-Tamimi saying the government is proceeding with the project, that the cabinet backs al-Zaidi's project, that the prime minister has an understanding with the Coordination Framework on it, and that a collision between the government and the factions is ruled out; MP Imad Yukhanna calling it important and not impossible and urging cooperation between the factions and the government; and Sadiqoun bloc MP Safaa al-Jabri calling it a purely Iraqi file. In the same hour Al-Nujaba TV (Nujaba — official) trailed two programmes under "sovereignty before weapons — the resistance puts its conditions on the table" and "sovereignty first — the resistance rejects American disarmament dictates", while iNEWS (KSS — affiliated) carried al-Muhammadawi mocking the arms-monopoly argument and criticising al-Zaidi's measures. Three separate networks, each in its own words, hold the rung.
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official18 Aug, 20:53
“The file of confining weapons to the state is important and not impossible to implement; there must be cooperation between the factions and the government”
ملف حصر السلاح بيد الدولة أمر مهم وليس مستحيلا تنفيذه - يجب أن يكون هناك تعاون بين الفصائل والحكومة
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official18 Aug, 21:16
“Confining weapons is a purely Iraqi file, and the withdrawal of foreign forces removes the justifications for their presence”
حصر السلاح ملف عراقي بحت وانسحاب القوات الأجنبية يزيل مسوغات وجودها
- Al-Janoub TVHarakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official
- iNEWSKSS — affiliated18 Aug, 21:41
“Confining weapons is the cause of the tsunami, COVID and the nuclear bomb! Al-Muhammadawi criticises al-Zaidi's measures”
حصر السلاح هو السبب بالتسونامي وكورونا والقنبلة النووية ! .. المحمداوي ينتقد اجراءات الزيدي
- Al-Nujaba TVNujaba — official18 Aug, 21:33
“Sovereignty first — the resistance rejects American dictates to disarm”
السيادة أولا.. المقاومة ترفض إملاءات نزع السلاح الأميركية
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official18 Aug, 21:53
“The ministerial cabinet supports al-Zaidi in the weapons-confinement project”
الكابينة الوزارية تدعم الزيدي بمشروع حصر السلاح
- Al-Nujaba TVNujaba — official18 Aug, 21:57
“Sovereignty before weapons — the resistance puts its conditions on the table”
السيادة قبل السلاح.. المقاومة تضع شروطها على الطاولة
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official18 Aug, 21:55
“The government is proceeding with the weapons-confinement project... the prime minister has an understanding with the Coordination Framework on it... we rule out a collision between the government and the factions”
الحكومة ماضية بمشروع حصر السلاح ... رئيس الوزراء لديه تفاهم مع الإطار بشأن حصر السلاح ... نستبعد حصول تصادم بين الحكومة والفصائل
The single most contested item in Iraqi security politics now has three different faction-media positions on the record within one hour, so any government claim of a unified Coordination Framework understanding is contradicted by Nujaba's and KSS's own channels.