In response to the gossips distributed by some hostile media about the destiny of the Resistance in Iraq, Ash-Shimmari, describing the Resistance groups as the identity of Iraq, maintained, “The order of Abd al-Mahdi doesn’t require the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (IPMF) to be merged with the army, yet, it is an instruction defining how the IPMF should act as a part of the military forces of Iraq (as determined by the Act passed in the parliament).” RNA - The official spokesman of al-Nujaba Islamic Resistance, through a note published by Iran Paper on July 6, 2019, maintained, “The Resistance Groups are the identity of Iraq, and following the Fatwa of the Collective Combat, issued by the source of emulation, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, they discharged their religious obligation forming the initial cores of the IPMF.”
Stressing that in 2014, Resistance groups didn’t provide the IPMF with all their human forces, Engineer Nasr ash-Shimmari reiterated, “We didn’t put all our eggs in one basket, and a big part of the combatants of the Resistance groups didn’t join the IPMF, because, due to multiple reasons, the information of a substantial number of experts and commanders shouldn’t be divulged.”
With regard to the gossip about the omission of the name of the Resistance groups following the declaration of the government proclamation, he wrote, “The second clause of Mr Abd al-Mahdi’s order maintains that the numbers applied to the sub-branches of the IPMF will change according to their organisational chart when they join the army.”
The top-rank member of the IPMF then mentioned, “The order of the prime minister doesn’t require the IPMF to merge with the Iraqi military forces (as determined by the Act passed in the parliament).”
In another part, the note reads, “Certainly, the Fatwa of the religious sources of emulation, the jihadi belief of the believers, unity of the Iraqi people and the unbounded supports of the Islamic Republic of Iran all contributed to the formation of the IPMF, the causes that are still existing.”
The full text of Iran Paper’s note, composed by the spokesman of al-Nujaba, reads:
Resistance Groups; the Identity of Iraq
The 10-article order of the Iraqi prime minister, Abd al-Mahdi, issued on July 1, 2019, has been read and interpreted disparately, and some swapped gossip about the debilitation or dissolution of the IPMF.
The present article is an attempt to deal with the chief doubts raised around the Iraqi prime minister’s proclamation, i.e., “The sensitivity of linking the IPMF to the army” and “The destiny of the Resistance groups”.
Firstly, the identity of the Resistance groups and their position in Iran should be dealt with; they are the identity of Iraq, and following the order of the Collective Combat, issued by the source of emulation, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, these forces discharged their religious obligation forming the initial cores of the IPMF.
In 2014, the Resistance groups didn’t provide the IPMF with all their human forces, or, in other words, they didn’t merge with IPMF, yet some of their brigades and battalions went under the command of the IPMF.
Indeed, we didn’t put all our eggs in one basket, and a big part of the combatants of the Resistance groups didn’t join the IPMF, as, due to multiple reasons, the information of a substantial number of experts and commanders shouldn’t be divulged.
The combatants, who hadn’t joined the IPMF were organized through some brigades identified with numbers instead of names (e.g. brigade no. 12), and officially went under the command of the IPMF and the flag of Iraq. The second clause of Mr Abd al-Mahdi’s order has been misinterpreted by some people. The said part of the order means that the numbers applied to the parts of the IPMF will change according to their organisational chart when they join the army.
It shouldn’t be forgotten that the name of the Iraqi Resistance groups is associated with the outstanding victories they achieved, sacrifices they made and the blood of a thousand of martyrs they presented.
Now, I announce that merging the Resistance groups of combatants, that are under the command of the IPMF, with the army is nothing but gossip. The said order is an instruction defining how the IPMF should act as a part of the Iraqi military forces (as determined by the Act passed in the parliament), because the IPMF is now a part of the military forces, and it acts and participates in the military operations following the commands and orders of the commander-in-chief of the military forces (the prime minister).
Regarding the military ranks of the combatants of the IPMF and incorporating them into the army ranks, in my opinion, there is no need for any imitation. It is only important to maintain the jihadi spirit and firm belief of the IPMF, the main factor that contributed the achievement of the victory over the terrorist group of ISIS and frustration of the American-Saudi-Zionist plan for the region.
We are worried that the IPMF combatants are turned into some administrative staff and we have issued warnings in this regard; as the combatants are some committed fighters and we hope this won’t happen.
Therefore, the 10-article order is an instruction on the organisation of the IPMF (not about its dissolution or on merging it with the army, as it is wrongly claimed by some hostile parties). In addition, it is no new order, and some similar proclamations have been declared in the past.
Concerning the next clauses of this governmental proclamation, it is necessary to note that all the provincial and local offices of the IPMF will keep on doing their activities legally whether their political activities fall under the jurisdiction of the Act of the Supreme Council of Election and if their cultural and social actions conform to the laws appertaining to the said areas. The centres not acting in accordance with the mentioned laws will be closed following the IPMF order.
Finally, I maintain that, certainly, the Fatwa of the religious sources of emulation, the jihadi belief of the believers, unity of the Iraqi people and the unbounded supports of the Islamic Republic of Iran contributed to the formation of the IPMF, the causes that are still existing. Moreover, the mobilization of a countless number of people will always remain a viable option in case of any need for defence of our homeland and the Islamic Ummah.
To this end, the Resistance groups, having acted brilliantly, made sacrifices and abnegation in the defence of the people’s life, properties and families and bravely protected the sacred sites and issues, are ready to again stand in the front line of the battle for defence of Iraq (different from the groups that continually seek to collapse the government and the political system of the state).
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