Armed Factions Confirm Weapon Retention and Reject Any Government Understandings

Iraqi armed factions affirmed on Wednesday that their military arsenal will remain entirely under the control of their fighters, stressing they are not bound by any government schedules or settlements concerning this file. An official statement issued on the occasion indicated that the Islamic resistance factions participated for over forty days, through the joint committee formed by the Coordination Framework in agreement with the government administration, in intensive talks aimed at organizing the status of the resistance weapons in exchange for imposing full and comprehensive national sovereignty over Iraq, which includes the withdrawal of US and NATO forces and all forms of foreign military presence on land, at sea, and in the air, while the resistance retains its full right to respond directly to any American or Zionist breach or violation of Iraqi sovereignty. The statement clarified that the awaited government response has not been delivered yet, despite the official signing of the agreement document by the committee formed by the Coordination Framework and the factions involved. Accordingly, the Islamic resistance announced it is not bound by any timelines or agreements that might be mentioned by any governmental or political party. The statement continued to emphasize that the resistance weapons will remain a protected trust in the hands of the mujahedeen, and their compass will remain directed as usual against any enemy targeting Iraq and its people, while dialogue channels remain open for anything that guarantees the country's sovereignty, dignity, and liberation from foreign hegemony.