Two Children Die after Ferry Hits Bridge in Eastern Syria
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi faces complex political and security challenges ahead of his Washington visit, as factions linked to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq reject calls to disarm.
- The Iraqi government had set a September deadline for weapons to be surrendered, coinciding with the withdrawal of the international coalition.
- Kataib Hezbollah, a prominent faction, has issued a strong warning against the disarmament plan, emphasizing loyalty to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
As Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi prepares for a visit to Washington, his government confronts significant political and security hurdles concerning the disarmament of Iran-aligned factions. Groups associated with the so-called Islamic Resistance in Iraq have publicly rejected the government's demands to hand over their weapons, directly challenging Baghdad's authority.
At this historic juncture, we draw the attention of political leaders and government officials to the need to submit to the will of the people of resistance and jihad, and to exercise extreme caution against being drawn into arrogant projects or aligning themselves with their malicious agendas.
The Iraqi government had previously designated the end of September as the final deadline for the surrender and dismantling of these arms. This timeline was set to coincide with the conclusion of the international coalition's military presence in Iraq, as per an agreement with the Iraqi government. Prime Minister al-Zaidi had recently stated that the government was engaged in talks with these factions, suggesting their future activities would shift to political and social spheres.
We warn them that our people will make their position and decision known if the compass deviates.
However, Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful faction within the Islamic Resistance, has issued a stern warning. Abu Hussein al-Hamidawi, an official from Kataib Hezbollah, urged the Iraqi government to "submit" to the resistance. Al-Hamidawi, who is reportedly close to Iran and for whom the U.S. State Department has offered a reward, stated that Kataib Hezbollah was founded by the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and remains loyal to his directives.
Let the enemies know that the forces of the axis of truth are one body, operating according to the jihadist framework laid down for us by our leader, Khamenei.
Al-Hamidawi cautioned political leaders and government officials against "arrogant projects" and aligning with "malicious agendas," warning that the "people of resistance" would make their position known if the government deviates from their path. The broader Islamic Resistance in Iraq coalition, comprising various factions aligned with Iran's Revolutionary Guards, also reiterated its commitment to the "path of resistance," vowing to continue supporting the oppressed and expelling occupiers.
Hardships will not deter us, but will only strengthen our determination to continue on our path of supporting the oppressed and expelling the occupiers from Iraq and the region.
Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.