![An Iraqi fighter of the Hashed al-Shaabi monitors during a campaign gathering for the Fateh Alliance, a coalition of Iranian-supported militia groups, in Baghdad on 7 May 2018, ahead of Iraq's parliamentary elections to be held on 12 May [AHMAD AL-RUBAYE/AFP via Getty Images]](https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/GettyImages-955697858.jpg)
For the first time, several well-known armed groups in Iraq have released statements supporting the idea of “the state’s monopoly on the use of force,” This idea calls for these groups to turn over their weapons to the government, dissolve their groups or merge with the military and security forces, and engage in political involvement. These statements were made in response to the election results, which showed that members of armed groups had won around 100 seats. At the same time, the United States was putting further pressure on Iraq to create a government that would not include militias, to increase economic sanctions to encompass official Iraqi institutions, and to initiate military strikes against militia groups. It also happened at […]
