In talks over Iraq’s security and state power as factions push for a monopoly on weapons; Muqtada al-Sadr remains a key Shia influencer and former militia leader. Born 1974, son of cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, once led the Mahdi Army.
Armed groups in Iraq have begun inventorying weapons and aligning under state authority following calls from top Shiite authorities and political blocs. Muqtada al‑Sadr has pledged to separate Saraya al‑Salam from his movement and integrate it into state structures, while Asaib Ahl al‑Haqq and Imam Ali Brigades are also moving to surrender arms and coordinate with the armed forces amid renewed U.S. pressure.