ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi emphasized the importance of Iraqi Security Forces remaining "neutral" and "professional."
"He stressed that all weapons must be in the hands of the state only and that some groups took advantage of the war on ISIS to save weapons and use it to threaten and be stronger than the state and harass people," the office of the premier stated on Saturday.
Abadi delivered a lecture at the University of Defense for Military Studies - National War that was attended by military brass.
Armed Shiite groups, some backed by Iran, fought alongside the state-sponsored paramilitias through the ISIS conflict. Abadi's control of all of Iraq's security forces was questioned during the ISIS conflict and brought to the forefront after the head of the parliament's defense and security committee went to Kata'ib Hezbollah headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday after reported clashes between police and the Hashd in the Iraqi capital.
"We will not tolerate that and we've solid plans to combat it," said Abadi while not referring to any one group. "There are people who have had weapons in the past for self-defense and that's different from these armed groups. There must be no weapons outside the control of the state."
Iraqi forces have also provided air support to help with the ultimate defeat of ISIS in Syria.
"The regional situation has changed for Iraq and countries have switched from being against to building relations," Abadi stated.
The incumbent PM’s term ends on June 30. Parliament is expected to meet on Sunday to vote to extend the terms of current MPs and the government.
"He stressed that all weapons must be in the hands of the state only and that some groups took advantage of the war on ISIS to save weapons and use it to threaten and be stronger than the state and harass people," the office of the premier stated on Saturday.
Abadi delivered a lecture at the University of Defense for Military Studies - National War that was attended by military brass.
The commander-in-chief of all of Iraq's armed forces declared the defeat of ISIS in Iraq in December, but ISIS sleeper cells and armed gangs have killed civilians and Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitaries in and around Kirkuk. Rudaw has also documented kidnappings in the area of Kakai Kurds, an ethno-religious minority.
Locals have pleaded for the return of Peshmerga and Kurdish security apparatus to the disputed or Kurdistani areas, which they withdrew from in October 2017 amid a federal takeover.
Armed Shiite groups, some backed by Iran, fought alongside the state-sponsored paramilitias through the ISIS conflict. Abadi's control of all of Iraq's security forces was questioned during the ISIS conflict and brought to the forefront after the head of the parliament's defense and security committee went to Kata'ib Hezbollah headquarters in Baghdad on Wednesday after reported clashes between police and the Hashd in the Iraqi capital.
"We will not tolerate that and we've solid plans to combat it," said Abadi while not referring to any one group. "There are people who have had weapons in the past for self-defense and that's different from these armed groups. There must be no weapons outside the control of the state."
Iraqi forces have also provided air support to help with the ultimate defeat of ISIS in Syria.
"The regional situation has changed for Iraq and countries have switched from being against to building relations," Abadi stated.
The incumbent PM’s term ends on June 30. Parliament is expected to meet on Sunday to vote to extend the terms of current MPs and the government.
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