Security sources have warned of a possible armed clash between the Iraqi government and Kataib Hezbollah, as Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's dispute with the Iran-aligned faction intensifies over weapons, border crossings and government contracts. Kurdistan24 reported the warning on Tuesday, 10 November.

The row escalated after al-Zaidi cancelled three leases at Mosul International Airport signed with companies linked to armed groups, ordering the check-in counters, internal car park and taxi office to be reassigned to international firms. Kataib Hezbollah denied controlling airport contracts and called on the Integrity Commission to investigate the finances of the prime minister's brother, Hassan al-Zaidi.

Arrest warrant and mediation

An Iraqi court arrest warrant for Hussein al-Hamidawi, the son of Kataib Hezbollah's leader, became public on 9 November. The warrant, issued by the Rusafa investigation court in Baghdad and dated 5 July, accuses him of heading an armed group that uses violence and threats to undermine state security, citing Articles 2 and 4 of the 2005 Anti-Terrorism Law, which carry the death penalty. No arrest has been announced.

The warrant circulated a day after the faction's security official, Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, urged the Integrity Commission to investigate what he called al-Zaidi's "financial empire", which he put at 21 trillion dinars, about 14 billion dollars. A senior Kataib Hezbollah official had earlier warned that al-Zaidi's government would be toppled "by all means" if it failed to serve Iraqis.

Senior Shia figures are trying to contain the dispute. National Wisdom Movement leader Ammar al-Hakim and Islamic Supreme Council leader Humam Hamoudi have begun mediating between the prime minister and the faction, with the backing of the Shia Coordination Framework, and framework leaders were due to meet al-Zaidi to discuss the tensions.

Talks on bringing the factions' weapons under exclusive state control have reached a near-deadlock, a government source close to al-Zaidi told Shafaq News on 5 November, warning that continued verbal escalation could spill onto the streets. Under the government's plan, armed factions are to hand their weapons to the state by 30 June 2027, but Kataib Hezbollah said on 30 September that it was not bound by any timetable, and the United States has warned Baghdad of possible sanctions if the factions keep their arms. The faction suspended military operations inside Iraq on 1 October, after the withdrawal of US-led coalition troops. Read the full reports at Kurdistan24 and The Insight International.