Iraq’s top Shiite cleric on Monday ordered his fighters to hand state-issued weapons back to the government following the country’s defeat of ISIL, like reported by thenational.ae.
Moqtada Al Sadr’s fighters took up arms against the extremist group in 2014 after the fall of Mosul and are officially part of the government-sanctioned Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), also known as Hashed Al Shaabi.
In a televised statement, Mr Al Sadr called on his fighters to also hand over parts of the territory they control to Iraq’s security forces. He maintained, however, that his fighters would remain present as protectors of a holy Shiite shrine in Samarra, north of Baghdad.
Mr Al Sadr urged Iraq’s prime minister Haider Al Abadi to prevent leaders of the Iranian-backed Hashed Al Shaabi from running in the upcoming elections and to launch an investigation into the fall of Mosul.
Iraq is set to hold general elections in May and a number of Hashed Al Shaabi leaders have indicated their desire to run, despite Mr Al Abadi asserting that political factions with armed groups would not be allowed to participate in the elections.
“We ask the Iraqi government not to allow the Hashed Al Shaabi, under any circumstances, to participate in the elections, and to prevent PMF leaders from running,” Mr Al Sadr said.
On Saturday, Mr Al Abadi, announced the liberation of all Iraqi territories from ISIL extremists.
“The dream of liberation is now a reality,” he said. Mr Al Abadi’s announcement followed a victory parade in Baghdad, with Iraqi army units marching through the main square in central Baghdad as helicopters and fighter jets flew overhead.
ISIL militants seized control of large parts of Iraq and neighbouring Syria in 2014, declaring a cross-border “caliphate” and committing widespread atrocities. At their height, the extremists threatened the country’s very existence.
With backing from a US-led coalition, Iraqi forces gradually retook control of all territory lost to ISIL over the last three years.
