Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi continues restructuring military positions in what is believed to be an attempt to seize the security decision in the country, in parallel with implementing a plan to 'restrict weapons', and amid continuing political disagreement over candidates for the portfolios of Interior and Defense.

Many security observers and analysts view the restoration of the 'Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces' after 12 years of its abolition as the most prominent measure taken by Al-Zaidi within the framework of restructuring and leading various security and military ministries and bodies.

Al-Zaidi ordered on Tuesday to resume the work of the 'Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces', and assigned the task of its management to the Minister of Interior in the previous government, Lieutenant General Staff Abdul Amir Al-Shammari.

Before that, Al-Zaidi had issued another order appointing Lieutenant General Staff Jabbar Na'eema as 'Secretary of the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces'.

The 'Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces' had previously been dissolved and its work suspended due to grave violations that led to the occupation of vast areas in northern and western Iraq by the 'ISIS' organization, and those in charge of the 'Office' at the time were accused of negligence in managing the security file.

Military sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that 'the (Office of the Commander-in-Chief) will operate with broad powers exceeding those of the (Joint Operations Command) due to its proximity and close connection to the Commander-in-Chief.'

Other sources indicated that the restoration of the military Commander-in-Chief's office 'is also linked to adapting to the possibility of the vacancy in the Interior and Defense ministries continuing for the coming months, and the resulting leadership vacuum in light of the need for close follow-up on security and military files.'

Moreover, the restoration of this 'office' aims to ensure the continuity of orders and instructions and the management of various security agencies, along with establishing mechanisms for leadership and coordination among them.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi during a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House on July 14 of this year (EPA)

Plan to 'Restrict Weapons'

Sources do not rule out that restricting the weapons of armed factions is a motive behind the restructuring decision in leadership and security institutions, as military sources speak of 'growing influence' of those factions within the security agencies; which may obstruct and hinder the disarmament process given the 'existing collusion between some security leaders and faction leaders'.

Sources expect the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Ali Al-Zaidi, to make further changes in senior executive and leadership positions in the ministries and security institutions in the coming days, and sources confirm that the 'Popular Mobilization Forces' body is among those institutions.

Within the framework of restructuring and new appointments in security institutions, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces issued on Wednesday an order appointing Lieutenant General Zaid Hawashi as head of the 'Counter-Terrorism Service', succeeding the former commander Lieutenant General Karim Al-Tamimi.

This service is among the most well-equipped and professional military institutions in the field of counter-terrorism, and was the spearhead in the fight against the 'ISIS' organization, and receives special US attention in terms of equipping and assisting with military equipment. It is also the service that Al-Zaidi used two weeks ago in the 'Operation Dawn Raid' to arrest and detain a group of MPs and officials involved in corruption suspicions.

Hawashi previously held high security positions, including Director of the Military Intelligence Directorate in 2022, in addition to Director of the Operations Department in the National Intelligence Service in 2024.

An order was also issued appointing Lieutenant General Staff Muhammad Qasim Al-Fahd as commander of the Federal Police Forces, and also appointing Brigadier General Staff Jaafar Abdul Amir Hussein as commander of the Special Division.