Al-Kaabi responds to calls for the “disarmament” of Iraqi factions: This is a red line and will not be surrendered, even at the cost of lives.
Akram al-Kaabi, the leader of the Iraqi al-Nujaba Movement, responded on Wednesday to calls by the United States to “disarm” Iraqi factions, stressing that it is a “red line and will not be surrendered even if lives are sacrificed.”
In a post on the X platform, Al-Kaabi accused Israel of “direct Israeli incitement and provocation” of the US chargé d’affaires in Iraq to speak about the “resistance” weapons, expressing his regret that “a few (Iraqis) have become mouthpieces for these people,” and calling on Iraqi armed factions to “reject the very idea of discussing this issue.”
He added, “The resistance’s weapons are a red line, (…) and we protected Iraq with them from the defilement of ISIS and their American masters,” stressing that these weapons “will not be surrendered as long as we have breath, and will not be taken even if lives are sacrificed.”
On April 27, 2026, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, issued decisions regarding restricting weapons to the state and taking firm measures against outlaws, as well as military penalties against security officials who fail to fulfill their duties.
The US Treasury Department announced on Tuesday that it is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to Akram Abbas al-Kaabi, the leader of the Iraqi “al-Nujaba” movement.
The move comes as part of an escalating US campaign targeting leaders of Iraqi armed factions, as Washington previously announced a similar reward of $10 million for information on Hashim Finyan Rahim al-Saraji, known as Abu Ala al-Walai, leader of the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades in Iraq, and Haider Mazhar, known as Haider al-Gharawi, leader of the Ansar Allah al-Awfiya Movement.
According to the U.S. Diplomatic Security Service’s “Rewards for Justice” program, Washington accuses the faction leaders of leading a group loyal to Iran, and says its members were involved in killing Iraqi civilians and attacking U.S. diplomatic facilities, bases, and military personnel.
Shafaq.com