Baghdad: The Ministry of Interior announced on Monday the establishment of an information database covering six million firearms, while revealing that 71 fake offices claiming affiliation with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) had been shut down.
According to Iraqi News Agency, Head of the Ministry of Interior's Relations and Media Department, Major General Miqdad Miri, stated during a press conference that the committee tasked with regulating and limiting weapons to state control was established pursuant to National Security Council Resolution No. 21 of 2018. The committee began implementing the stages of the national policy to regulate weapons and started its work in January 2023.
Miri explained that the committee's work consists of four stages: preparing the database and establishing the information bank, registering citizens' weapons, inspection and enforcement, and achieving security and sustainable development. These stages are expected to be completed by 2030.
The committee operates under the supervision of the Prime Minister, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. It is chaired by the Ministry of Interior, represented by the Deputy Minister, and the executive team is headed by a representative of the Supreme Judicial Council, alongside representatives of security agencies, civil ministries, religious endowment offices, independent bodies, and the Iraqi Media Network.
The mission of the committee is to regulate weapons, prevent armed manifestations, achieve security and development, and protect economic prosperity. The committee holds a conference every three months to organize its work. For the first time, it was announced that the information database contains six million firearms across the country.
Regarding the committee's activities, Miri noted that so far, 71 fake PMF offices have been shut down, along with 119 arms stores and shops whose licenses had expired. The number of firearms carrying permits issued to citizens and possession permits granted by the General Directorate of Identity and Weapons Licensing has reached 160,759 permits. Additionally, 55,264 firearms previously under the custody of civil ministries have been transferred to the custody of the Ministry of Interior.
The committee has monitored and followed up on 143,309 stolen weapons, tracked the weapons of 134 private security companies, and seized 21,224 firearms, in addition to tracking 2,668 stolen firearms. More than half a million firearms have been registered through citizens' weapon-registration applications.
The committee also followed up on 461 weapons belonging to the Awakening Forces, tracked weapons reported missing from the Ministry of Interior, located them in the possession of security companies, and seized 947 firearms. Furthermore, it tracked 1,960 weapons reported missing from the Ministry of Interior and found in the possession of private companies.
The committee tracked 9,089 firearms seized from various security agencies, as well as 277,278 firearms handed over by coalition forces to the Iraqi side. The committee's work is not limited to regulating firearms but covers all matters related to weapons, including bladed weapons, fireworks, firecrackers, hunting weapons, and others.
The committee monitored and documented injuries caused by fireworks, which amounted to approximately 324 cases during 2025. Additionally, the Border Ports Authority, a member of the committee, seized 32,000 sound guns and recreational firearms. The committee also followed up on the issue of 53 tribal armed displays and seized 49 drones during the current year.
The judiciary treats any drone not entered or performed under official, ordinary, and normal circumstances as a terrorist matter. Drone owners are subject to the Anti-Terrorism Law if they possess drones for non-peaceful purposes or in an illegal manner.
Regarding the deadline for weapon registration, the current registration period, unless extended, runs until December 31, 2026. Citizens are urged to register their weapons before the expiry of the specified period, with a warning that any unregistered weapon will be considered unlawful, and legal measures will be taken against it after the deadline.