ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq’s Iran-aligned armed group Kata'ib Hezbollah has declared that it will not surrender its weapons to the state, insisting instead that arms would only be handed over to the Imam al-Mahdi, a revered figure in Islam and a descendent of Prophet Muhammad, as Baghdad advances efforts to bring all weapons under state control.
In a statement released Thursday by the group’s security official Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, Kata'ib Hezbollah rejected ongoing disarmament steps taken by other factions, arguing they were never part of what it called the “Islamic Resistance.”
Assaf warned officials and media not to fall into what he described as an “American trap,” saying: “We will not hand over a single bullet except to Imam al-Mahdi,” adding that the United States was attempting to sow division among armed groups.
The statement comes as Iraq’s federal government intensifies a nationwide initiative to restrict weapons to state authority. The committee formed by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has begun implementing measures that officials say apply to all armed actors.
Government spokesperson Sabah al-Numan said on Wednesday that the plan is “seeking to bring all weapons under state control and ensure that security decisions are made exclusively by the [Iraqi] state,” adding that “All weapons, ammunition, military equipment, and camps must be handed over to the relevant state security institutions.”
The initiative also targets restructuring armed factions within the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state-funded coalition formed during the war against ISIS in 2014.
Kata'ib Hezbollah’s position also coincided with early steps by Saraya al-Salam - the armed faction affiliated with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr - which has begun separating its organizational ties from the movement led by Sadr and transferring security responsibilities in parts of Samarra to the Iraqi army.
In its statement, Kata'ib Hezbollah argued that “Those taking steps toward laying down their arms and surrendering their headquarters were never part of the Islamic Resistance. They never took responsibility for attacking the US and haven't so much as thrown a stone [at the US] in years."
"Therefore, this development is not surprising, and these decisions have no connection, near or far, to the Islamic Resistance. Nonetheless, we encourage these parties to expedite the handover process,” the statement added.
The group also suggested that some elements within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) may still support integration into the state framework, but stressed that its own position remains unchanged.
It said it would continue operations as long as what it described as “occupation,” airspace violations, and external political influence persist, referring to its continued alignment with the broader “Islamic Resistance” network.
The broader network in Iraq includes factions such as Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, and Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, many of which have also resisted full disarmament under state authority.
Meanwhile, the Tehran-aligned Saraya Awliya al-Dam Brigades (Guardians of the Blood Brigades) has outlined conditions for disarmament, including the withdrawal of all foreign forces and enhanced Iraqi military capabilities.
Its spokesperson Abu Mahdi al-Jaafari said on Wednesday: “Any national initiative aimed at restricting weapons must be accompanied by genuine steps that guarantee Iraq's sovereignty and the independence of its decision-making,” adding additional conditions related to economic independence and the end of foreign interference.
Hastyar Qadir contributed to this report.
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