Al-Nujaba Spox Says New Resistance Groups Formed in Iraq
Lebanon’s al-Mayadeen satellite television channel spoke to Nasr al-Shammari, the spokesman of the al-Nujaba Islamic Resistance Movement, via live television after covering the speech by Shaykh Akram al-Kaabi, the secretary-general of the movement, to a number of commanders of the Iraqi Resistance.
Regarding the remarks of Iraq’s National Security Adviser on the end of the American combat mission in Iraq, al-Shammari said, “Qasim al-Araji’s brother is a respected figure, and we appreciate his stance, especially his support for the Resistance but there are contradictions and ambiguities in this.”
He went on to recall the claims of each of the previous administrations that American combat troops were not present on Iraqi soil, “On the other hand, those at the top of the American political pyramid insist that by spending billions of dollars, they will establish and maintain a military base on Iraqi soil to counter our neighbours, who are threatening its interests in the region.”
The official spokesman of the al-Nujaba Islamic Resistance Movement asked, “What does it mean to end the American combat mission? And when did they have a combat mission in Iraq?” and added, “The Iraqi government, which has claimed since 2014 that there is no foreign combat force here and that the American presence is limited to air support, advisory assistance and logistics!”
Al-Shammari emphasized the lack of confidence in any of the promises and commitments of the United States, “We are convinced that the United States will not leave Iraq, and all these discussions are just a change of title. Their goal is to keep the same forces with the same dirty agenda and in the same bases.”
Referring to the agreement on the withdrawal of Americans from Iraq at the end of 2021, he said, “Foreign forces that act against the parliament’s resolution, against the agreement with the Iraqi governments and against the will of our nation cannot be described in any other way than ‘occupier.’ As a result, they are more likely to be targeted.”
Acknowledging the attacks of the Resistance units against the American forces since 2003, the deputy secretary-general of al-Nujaba added, “We will continue to target them until the last American soldier leaves Iraq.”
In response to a question from the host of al-Mayadeen about the nature of the groups present at the meeting with the secretary-general of al-Nujaba, al-Shammari explained, “They are a group of Iraqi Resistance men whose goal is to counter the American occupation and take revenge on the greatest Iraqi commander, the martyred Haj Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the commander of the Popular Mobilization Forces, as well as the official guest of Iraq, General Haj Qasem Soleimani. Groups formed regardless of political pressure and negotiations with the United States, and we declared our full support for them from the outset.”
He described the targeting of American interests in Iraq by the newly formed groups as “not a stigma, but rather an honour for them” and said, “Regarding the embassy of the United States, I must emphasize that it is not an embassy, but rather it is a military base. We [the al-Nujaba Movement] fell short in attacking this place but that does not mean that all Resistance groups are committed to such a thing.”
The spokesman of al-Nujaba noted the timing of Shaykh Akram al-Kaabi’s recent meeting with the commanders of the anti-American groups, “No political or non-political tensions can hinder the activities of the Resistance. The main message of the meeting is that the Resistance forces will not accept foreign occupiers – American or non-American – under any circumstances and under any pressure.”
Explaining another message of the meeting, al-Shammari reminded, “This year is coming to an end. We want to see if American troops have really left Iraq. Are the remaining forces advisers? How many are there? We want to know if parliamentary, governmental and popular committees are allowed to go to American bases and inspect them? Have American heavy weapons such as tanks and fighter jets been moved out of Iraq, or is it just a media hoax to hide the truth?”
He explained, “The Resistance has not gone through more difficult conditions than it did between 2003 and 2011,” and added, “Today, when the Resistance is at its strongest and the Americans are at their weakest point in the region, no party or agreement can impose a cessation on the Resistance.”
In conclusion, the deputy secretary-general of al-Nujaba stressed once again, “The formal withdrawal of American forces will not force us to surrender our weapons and the final battle of the weapons of Resistance will be in al-Quds.”
Source: Communication and Media Affairs Centre of al-Nujaba in Iran
