‘Islamic Resistance’ in Iraq announces it will not lay down arms

The “Islamic Resistance,” which includes Shiite militia groups in Iraq, has announced that it will not surrender its weapons following the departure of US troops and coalition forces from the country.

In a statement released by the group, it was argued that protecting Iraq’s sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity is the primary priority. The statement expressed that the country’s political and security decisions must be made independently of foreign interference.

It was stated that the weapons, described as “resistance weapons,” will continue to be used against any party targeting Iraq and its people. The statement further noted that they would oppose any attempts to seize weapons from militia elements and that the weapons would remain in their possession.

The Iraqi government had previously set September 30 as the target date for consolidating all weapons in the country under state control. The statement from the militia groups comes at a time when discussions regarding this timeline are ongoing.