Sheikh Al-Khazali: Israeli and Turkish threats require strengthening the resistance and not surrendering its weapons … Rejecting calls for its dissolution.
Sheikh Al-Khazali: Israeli and Turkish threats require strengthening the resistance and not surrendering its weapons … Rejecting calls for its dissolution.
12 January 2025
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The General Secretary of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, His Eminence Sheikh Qais Khazali, confirmed on Saturday that the current situation in Iraq and the region does not allow for the appropriate timing to demand the dissolution of the factions and the dissolution of the Popular Mobilization Forces. He considered that these demands raise many questions and doubts, especially in light of the security developments in Syria and the conditions of the camps and prisons that contain large numbers of terrorists.
Sheikh Al-Khazali said in a televised interview that the existence of threats to Iraq from the Israeli entity, in addition to the challenges witnessed by the region, makes it difficult to think about handing over weapons at this time, indicating that the Israeli entity will not allow stability in Iraq or Jordan in the coming period, and will not stop the threats.
His Eminence also responded to some criticisms that say that armed factions are the ones attacking Israel, stressing that this idea is unacceptable, especially in light of the recent Israeli moves in Jordan and occupied Palestine.
His Eminence added, “Lebanon and South Lebanon were not able to expel the Israeli occupation except through resistance, and Iraq also needs this resistance to confront the upcoming challenges”.
Regarding the talk about the weapons of the factions, Sheikh Al-Khazali confirmed that the disciplined weapons inside do not represent a problem in Iraq, as no violent incidents have been recorded between the factions and the security services.
His Eminence rejected what some are promoting about pressures on Iraq regarding the dissolution of factions or the surrender of weapons, considering that this issue was not raised during the Prime Minister’s visit to Iran, and that the resistance will remain, citing the words of the Supreme Leader, Sayyed Khamenei, which included a legitimate aspect, namely that the resistance in every country is the one that assesses its circumstances.
Sheikh Al-Khazali touched on the external threats facing Iraq, noting that the upcoming challenges require strengthening national defense capabilities, such as the need for a strong air defense system, which has not yet been achieved due to restrictions imposed by external powers.
His Eminence also referred to the Turkish threats in Iraq, stressing that the Turkish project in the region had begun some time ago, reviewing the Turkish incursions into northern Iraq, considering that this constitutes part of a broad plan to expand Turkish influence in the region.
Sheikh Al-Khazali stressed the importance of the unity and cohesion of the Iraqi people to confront foreign projects, pointing out that the security and political challenges facing Iraq require unified efforts from all the Iraqi people to protect national sovereignty and defend their interests.