Iraq launches nationwide firearms registration drive to curb illegal weapons
Iraq has opened firearms registration and licensing offices across the country as part of a government campaign to bring weapons under state control and tackle the spread of unregistered firearms.
Lt. Gen. Saad Maan, head of Iraq’s Security Media Cell, said the Interior Ministry’s security committee is continuing to establish registration and licensing offices across the provinces.
The initiative aims to restrict weapons possession to authorized military and security institutions, regulate firearms licensing, combat illicit arms trafficking and collect weapons that are not legally registered.
Maan said the government remains committed to the nationwide effort, describing it as an important step toward improving public safety and strengthening confidence in Iraq’s security and military institutions.
He also reported a significant decline in armed tribal disputes, saying such incidents had almost disappeared in some parts of the country.
Iraq’s judiciary has classified armed tribal conflicts as terrorism-related offenses, a policy Maan said has contributed to the sharp reduction in such incidents nationwide.
The latest initiative follows a decision announced on June 3 by Sabah al-Numan, spokesman for the commander-in-chief of Iraq’s armed forces, to establish a committee responsible for implementing the government’s plan to place weapons under state control. The committee has since begun its work.
The issue remains one of Iraq’s most difficult security and political challenges. Various armed groups operate across the country, including factions affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as well as groups operating independently of formal state institutions.
The Iraqi government has increasingly sought to strengthen the authority of state security bodies and consolidate control over weapons as part of broader efforts to improve domestic stability and limit the impact of regional conflicts.
The nationwide registration campaign represents a significant attempt to address the long-standing problem of weapons outside official state control, although its effectiveness will depend on how broadly the authorities can enforce licensing requirements and recover unregistered firearms.