ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Owners in Kirkuk province registered 11,000 light weapons for defensive purposes, Kirkuk police said on Monday, through Iraq’s Ain al-Iraq (eye of Iraq) application system for licensing and registering legal ownership.
“So far, 11,000 light civilian weapons have been registered electronically, ranging from pistols to Kalashnikov rifles, and they are kept at homes for self-defense [purposes],” Kirkuk police spokesperson Amer Shwani told Rudaw on Monday.
According to Shwani, registration of light weapons will continue "until the end of this year,” after which “any unlicensed weapon found will be seized, and its owner will face legal punishment of up to three months in prison.”
The push for tighter state control over weapons comes as Iraq seeks to stabilize its security environment after Iran-aligned armed groups launched hundreds of attacks against US bases, diplomatic facilities, and energy infrastructure across Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and Gulf states during the weeks-long US-Iran war that began on February 28.
Iraq launched its electronic registration platform for light weapons, Ain al-Iraq, on January 24.
By allowing citizens to legally register light arms through official digital platforms, the policy aims to reduce the circulation of unlicensed weapons and establish a formal database of civilian-held firearms. Registration will remain open until the end of the year, after which enforcement measures against illegal possession will begin.
Applicants are required to fill out an electronic form and contact details. The process is completed within 30 days.
According to regulations, civilians are allowed to keep up to 50 bullets for pistols and up to 200 bullets for automatic weapons at home.
Police in Kirkuk said that the system covers civilian light weapons only, while a separate committee is assigned to manage heavy weapons, purchasing them directly from citizens.
Following the formation of the Iraqi government in May, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi emphasized in parliament that his government would pursue security reform through “monopolizing weapons in the hands of the state,” while also strengthening security forces and consolidating citizens’ “confidence in democracy.”
The federal government has set a deadline of December 31, 2026 for citizens to register their weapons.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to the article from Erbil.
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