Factions rebel against Al-Zaidi ahead of his Washington visit
With the announcement of a final deadline to consolidate weapons by September 30, several factions aligned with Iran challenged Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Abadi on the eve of his visit to Washington, affirming their commitment to retaining their arms.
In a statement issued yesterday evening, al-Humaidawi said, “Hezbollah Brigades were founded by the martyr of the nation, Khamenei, by his order. Their members, and still are, remain loyal to this line.” He considered that “the Iraqi people proved, on that majestic historic day of mourning, beyond any doubt, that they are a people of resistance and jihad. That march was akin to a decisive popular referendum of millions, in which authentic Iraqis renewed their support and commitment to Islamic resistance and its weapons.”
He added, “At this historical juncture, we draw the attention of political leaders and government officials to the necessity of adhering to the will of the noble Iraqi people, a people of resistance and jihad, and to exercise extreme caution against being swept along in the wake of imperialist projects or identifying with their malicious agendas. We warn them that our people will speak their word and make their decision if the compass deviates, and at that time… it will be too late.”
In a new statement signed on behalf of “the Resistance,” in response to steps taken by the al-Abadi government to consolidate weapons under state control, several factions threatened to “enhance their military and security capabilities” and “continue our path of expelling occupiers from Iraq and the region.”
The statement added, “Our weapon, with which the arms of our men in the fields have adorned themselves, has never been an option for negotiation. Rather, it is a creed and a covenant upon our necks, and a trust from the Imam of the Age, the Master of Command, and his esteemed deputy. By it, we will proceed to break the shackles of hegemony.”
The statement further said, “We will work with all the resolve and strength at our disposal to develop our military and security capabilities in both quantity and quality, and to raise readiness in proportion to the scale of escalating challenges and threats posed by the Zionist-American enemy.”
For his part, Josh Harris, the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the US Embassy in Baghdad, affirmed that the administration of President Donald Trump “supports Prime Minister Ali al-Abadi’s vision for consolidating weapons, and looks forward to its full implementation,” clarifying that it “believes that achieving Iraq’s full sovereignty requires disarming all armed groups operating outside state authority.”
Harris warned that “the existence of armed groups and factions contradicts the aspirations of Iraqis for stability and peace,” considering that “the continued activity of illegal armed groups undermines opportunities for security and stability in Iraq and the region.”
Meanwhile, Qasim al-Araji, the security advisor to the Iraqi Prime Minister, affirmed today that “the security of the Gulf region is a shared regional interest and a collective responsibility, based on respecting the sovereignty of states, adhering to the principles of good neighborliness, non-interference in internal affairs, and adopting dialogue and cooperation as means to address common challenges.”
Al-Araji said in a statement, “Iraq, in light of its strategic position and regional role, continues to support all that can enhance regional stability, secure supply chains, develop safe commercial and logistical corridors, and deepen cooperation with neighboring and regional countries, in a manner that achieves common interests, consolidates security and stability, and leads to sustainable development that meets the aspirations of the peoples of the region for a future dominated by peace and prosperity.”
