Sadr dissolves militias and pushes for Iraqi state control after US exit

Following the September 30 departure of US forces, Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr announced the formal dissolution of his Promised Day Brigade and the Saraya al Salam, pledging that their members will be absorbed into Iraq's official security apparatus overseen by Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi. Al Sadr presented the step as a cornerstone of his long-standing nationalist platform, aimed at insulating Iraq from regional wars and limiting Tehran's sway.

While he has repeatedly advocated for the disbanding of armed groups, analysts caution that integrating former militia members does not automatically resolve questions of allegiance or command structure. The original deadline for militia disarmament was missed and has now been pushed to June next year. Observers link Al Sadr's latest positioning to a broader effort to rebrand himself as a statesman and political kingmaker, balancing religious leadership with a push for a strong, centralized state.