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Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Vows to Expand 'Resistance' Arsenal, Defying Disarmament Deadline

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah vowed to expand its military arsenal, defying a government deadline to disarm armed factions by the end of September.
  • The group's stance highlights a growing divide between the Iraqi government and Iran-aligned factions, posing a security threat and risking external attacks.
  • Neighboring countries have warned Iraq of direct military strikes if attacks are launched from its territory, while the US offers a reward for the group's leader.

Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah has directly challenged the government's deadline for disarming armed factions, declaring its intention to expand its military arsenal rather than surrender "weapons of the resistance." This defiant stance, issued by Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, underscores the escalating tensions between the Iraqi government and Iran-aligned groups, which have become a significant security concern.

continue jihad for the sake of God and deter every aggressor, making them pay many times the price of their aggression.

— Abu Hussein al-HamidawiKataib Hezbollah Secretary-General Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi issued the latest rejection late on Monday, pledging in a statement to continue jihad for the sake of God and deter every aggressor, making them pay many times the price of their aggression.

Neighboring countries have issued stern warnings to Baghdad, stating that any attacks originating from Iraqi territory will prompt direct military retaliation against the armed factions within Iraq. Al-Hamidawi's statement pledged to "continue jihad for the sake of God" and "develop them and expand its arsenal," signaling a clear rejection of the disarmament process. He also called for enhanced security measures and secrecy to deter potential aggressors.

The group's refusal to disarm, alongside Harakat al-Nujaba, places Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's government under considerable pressure, especially as international coalition forces are scheduled to withdraw by the end of September, coinciding with the government's disarmament deadline. This challenge is amplified by ongoing U.S. pressure on Baghdad to confront Iran's allies and domestic calls for factions to cease undermining Iraq's stability.

develop them and expand its arsenal.

— Abu Hussein al-HamidawiAl-Hamidawi said the group would neither abandon nor surrender its weapons, but would instead develop them and expand its arsenal.

While government sources assert that disarmament is an internal Iraqi matter, reports indicate that al-Zaidi's request for Iranian assistance in securing the factions' disarmament was rejected last month. The future of these factions and Iran's broader network of allies appears intrinsically linked to the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran, with their fate potentially hinging on the outcome of these geopolitical dynamics.

cleanse our security environment

— Abu Hussein al-HamidawiHe also called for efforts to cleanse our security environment and urged strict compliance with security procedures and secrecy measures suited to the scale of the challenges, to deter anyone who wishes us harm in the wars of this period.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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