The Ministry of Interior announced today, Monday, the establishment of a database for 6 million pieces of weapons, while noting the closure of 71 fictitious locations claiming affiliation with the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Lieutenant General Muqdad Miri, the head of the Department of Relations and Media at the Ministry of Interior, stated during a press conference attended by a reporter from the News Video Agency that "the special committee for the inventory and organization of state-held weapons was formed according to National Security Council Resolution No. 21 of 2018, and began implementing stages of the national policy prepared for the organization of weapons, starting its work in January 2023."
He added that "the committee's work includes four stages: the first is data base preparation and the establishment of a information bank, the second is the registration of citizens' weapons, the third is control and inspection, and the fourth is achieving security and sustainable development," indicating that "these stages are expected to be completed by 2030."
He clarified that "the committee works under the auspices of the Prime Minister, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and is chaired by the Ministry of Interior represented by the ministry’s deputy due to specialization, while the executive team is headed by a representative from the Supreme Judicial Council, in addition to representatives from security authorities, civil ministries, foundations, independent bodies, and the Iraqi Media Network."
He noted that "the committee's mission is to organize weapons, prevent armed manifestations, achieve security and development, and protect economic prosperity," pointing out that "the committee holds a conference every three months to organize its operations."
He added that "for the first time, the committee announces that its information bank contains 6 million pieces of weapons across the country."
Regarding the committee's activities and statistics, Miri said that "the committee has closed so far 71 fictitious premises claiming to belong to the Popular Mobilization Authority, as well as closed 119 stores for selling weapons and expired license shops."
He added that "the number of weapon carrying permits for citizens and possession permits granted by the General Directorate of IDs and weapon permits reached 160,759 permits, while 55,264 pieces of weapons under the responsibility of civil ministries were reassigned to the Ministry of Interior."
He pointed out "the follow-up of 143,309 stolen weapons, as well as monitoring 134 private security companies' weapons and seizing 21,224 pieces of weapons, in addition to tracking 2,668 stolen weapons."
He noted that "more than half a million pieces of weapons have been registered under citizens' weapon registration requests."
He explained that "the committee monitored 461 pieces of Awakening weapons, tracked lost weapons from the Ministry of Interior and found them with security companies, seizing 947 pieces of weapons, in addition to tracking 1,960 lost weapons from the Ministry of Interior and finding them with private companies."
He continued that "the committee tracked 9,089 pieces of weapons from all security entities that had been confiscated, as well as monitoring 277,278 pieces of weapons that were handed over by the Coalition Forces to the Iraqi side."
He clarified that "the committee's work does not only involve weapon organization, but also includes everything related to weapons, including white weapons, fireworks, explosives, hunting weapons, and others."
He noted that "the committee monitored and recorded injuries resulting from fireworks, which reached about 324 injuries during the year 2025."
He added that "the Border Ports Authority, a member of the committee, seized sound and hobby rifles totaling 32,000 pieces," explaining that "the committee also tracked the file of 53 tribal checkpoints."
He noted that "the committee seized 49 drones during the current year."
He confirmed that "the judiciary treats any drone that has not entered or performed its duties under normal and usual conditions as an act of terrorism, and consequently, holders of drones are treated according to the Anti-Terrorism Law if they possess drones for non-peaceful purposes or by illegal means."
Regarding the duration for weapon registration, he mentioned that "the current registration period, unless extended, is until December 31, 2026."
He called on citizens to "hurry to register their weapons before the end of the designated period," warning that "if the period ends without an extension, any unregistered weapon will be treated as an illegal weapon, and legal actions will be taken against it."