Shafaq News- Baghdad
The Iran-aligned Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI) said onFriday it would not give up its weapons, pledging to strengthen its militaryand security capabilities and raise the operational readiness of its members.
In a statement, the IRI noted, "Our arms, carried byour fighters on the battlefield, have never been open to negotiation. They area matter of belief and a commitment we will uphold."
IRI includes several prominent factions such as KataibHezbollah, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and Kataib Sayyidal-Shuhada, all of which are designated by the US as terrorist organizations.
Baghdad is moving to place all weapons outside state controlunder government authority before a September 30 deadline, the date set for theend of the US-led Coalition mission against ISIS. While several armedfactions have agreed to integrate into the state security framework, groupsincluding Kataib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhadahave rejected disarmament, insisting their arsenal remain part of the resistanceuntil all foreign forces leave Iraq.
: Iraq's September 30 weapons deadline leaves terms of disarmament unresolved
