Baghdad: Head of the Security Media Cell Lieutenant General Saad Maan announced on Monday the launch of a campaign to register weapons owned by citizens living near border areas. Maan told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that ‘the three factions-Saraya al-Salam, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Imam Ali-continue to hand over unregistered weapons, with efforts to receive weapons from other groups set to continue in the coming days.’ He confirmed that ‘a large number of weapons of various types have been received from these factions.’

According to Iraqi News Agency, Maan added that ‘the National Committee Supporting the Regulation of Weapons and Limiting Their Possession to the State continues its work, with significant support from Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi and the Ministry of Interior.’ He noted that ‘6,000 weapons are being registered in Baghdad and the provinces every week, including unregistered weapons handed over by citizens and tribes,’ confirming that ‘the number of weapons received so far has exceeded 580,000.’

He further said that ‘the number of offices of the National Committee Supporting the Regulation of Weapons and Limiting Their Possession to the State has increased from 845 to 848, following the addition of three offices in border areas,’ confirming that ‘the committee has begun registering weapons owned by residents living near the border areas.’