Baghdad: Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Faleh al-Zaidi, has announced a significant development in the Sinjar district, with the Sinjar Resistance factions set to begin handing over their weapons to the state. This move will place Mount Sinjar under the complete authority of the federal government and its security and administrative institutions, marking a crucial step towards consolidating stability and securing the district’s future.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, al-Zaidi’s announcement followed a meeting with a delegation from the leadership of the Yazidi Cause Alliance and its parliamentary bloc leader, MP Murad Ismail, alongside the leadership of the Sinjar Resistance Units. The discussions focused on the district’s stability, reconstruction, and the future of its residents. The Prime Minister highlighted the importance of restricting weapons to state control and unifying security decision-making to protect the district’s people.

The decision to disarm and integrate the Sinjar Resistance Units, including the Women’s Units, into Iraqi security institutions is part of a broader effort to build a state of institutions and end the multiplicity of security authority centers. Al-Zaidi assured that the rights and sacrifices of the resistance members would be recognized, with qualified individuals being integrated under legal and official frameworks.

The meeting also addressed various issues, such as improving public services, infrastructure, compensating those affected by past conflicts, and facilitating the return of displaced persons. The management of the Sinjar Reconstruction Fund and the district’s administrative needs were also discussed.

Al-Zaidi emphasized the Yazidi community’s vital role within the Iraqi spectrum, acknowledging their historical suffering at the hands of terrorist groups. He stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring their rights and supporting their return to their homes while preventing Sinjar from becoming a conflict zone.

The Prime Minister directed efforts towards including the Yazidi community in the million-plot residential land project and continuing reconstruction efforts to stabilize the population. He also ordered the formation of a high-level committee to conduct a comprehensive study of Sinjar’s security and service needs, aiming to integrate the Sinjar Resistance Units into official security and service institutions.

The Yazidi delegation expressed strong support for the Prime Minister’s initiatives, particularly those aimed at strengthening state authority, disarming militias, integrating resistance units, combating corruption, and implementing economic reforms.