Iraqi Prime Minister Pledges State Control of Weapons by Mid-Next Year

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi said a serious effort to bring weapons under state control was beginning, setting out a key commitment for his government.

Al-Zaidi described the day as a “serious beginning” in addressing arms held outside the authority of the state.

He affirmed his government’s determination to move forward with the effort, with the aim of ensuring that weapons are exclusively under state control by the middle of next year.

His remarks set a deadline for that goal, but the brief statement did not detail the measures the government would take to achieve it.