On 30 September, Watan TV (Badr Organization — affiliated) relayed the Babylon Movement’s statement that state control of arms must apply to every Iraqi province without exception. Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) then quoted Sadiqoun bloc head Uday Awwad saying sovereignty requires arms in state hands, protected borders and national decisions free of outside dictates; he also welcomed completion of the coalition withdrawal. Press reporting that morning quoted Ashab al-Kahf rejecting weapons handover and saying it would respond militarily to foreign presence from the night of 30 September.
- 964media30 Sept, 11:20
““Starting tomorrow night, any foreign presence, whether on the ground or in the air, will face a military response from us.” The report also says Ashab al-Kahf rejected handing over its weapons.”
- Watan TVBadr Organization — affiliated30 Sept, 14:30
“Babylon Movement on National Sovereignty Day: We affirm that confining arms to the state is a national and constitutional principle covering all Iraqi provinces, from north to south, without exception.”
حركة بابليون بمناسبة يوم السيادة الوطني: نؤكد أن حصر السلاح بيد الدولة مبدأ وطني ودستوري يشمل جميع محافظات العراق من شماله إلى جنوبه دون استثناء
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official30 Sept, 15:32
“Sadiqoun bloc head Uday Awwad: Completion of the international coalition’s withdrawal is an important step in consolidating sovereignty and strengthening Iraq’s independence.”
رئيس كتلة الصادقون عدي عواد: اكتمال انسحاب التحالف الدولي خطوة مهمة في ترسيخ السيادة وتعزيز استقلال العراق
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official30 Sept, 15:34
“Awwad: National sovereignty is completed by confining arms to the state, safeguarding borders and protecting national decision-making from outside intervention or dictates.”
عواد: السيادة الوطنية تكتمل بحصر السلاح بيد الدولة وصيانة الحدود وحماية القرار الوطني من أي تدخل أو إملاء خارجي
The disagreement concerns custody of weapons after the coalition mission, not whether the mission’s end is being welcomed. Awwad states a sovereignty principle but gives no handover timetable.