Moqtada al Sadr Dissolves 1 Militia, Folding Saraya al Salam Into Iraqi State
Updated
Updated · Institute for the Study of War · May 27
Moqtada al Sadr Dissolves 1 Militia, Folding Saraya al Salam Into Iraqi State
12 articles · Updated · Institute for the Study of War · May 27
Moqtada al Sadr said on May 27 that Saraya al Salam will be dissolved and its members fully integrated into the Iraqi state.
Sadr also said civilian bodies tied to the group would be converted into a non-militia structure with no bases, weapons or uniforms.
It remains unclear whether the move includes PMF brigades 313, 314 and 315, which Saraya al Salam controls within Iraq’s state security apparatus.
The announcement follows reports that a three-member Iraqi committee was close to finalizing a broader militia disarmament plan.
U.S. pressure on Baghdad to curb Iranian influence has intensified since early 2025 and grew further after militia attacks on U.S. and foreign targets during the war.
Is Iran's military rebuilding with foreign help faster than the US can degrade it?
With Hormuz closed and talks deadlocked, is a wider regional war now inevitable?
Are Iran's bold demands a sign of victory, or a desperate gamble by a crippled regime?
Breaking the Militia Mold: Sadr’s Disbandment of Saraya al-Salam and the Future of Iraq’s Armed Groups
Overview
On May 27, 2026, Muqtada al-Sadr announced the dissolution of his influential militia, Saraya al-Salam, ordering its complete separation from the Sadrist political movement and integration into Iraq’s official security forces under Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi. This move marks a major shift in Iraq’s security landscape, aiming to strengthen state authority over armed groups that have long operated independently. While the announcement signals a push for unified state control, it leaves open questions about how thousands of fighters will be integrated, highlighting both the ambition and complexity of this transformative step for Iraq’s future stability.