BAGHDAD, Iraq—Falih Fayyadh, a senior leader in the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi militia and advisor on national security says that the US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is not qualified to comment on the Hashd as they are national and legal forces.
“Those comments are rejected and Prime Minister Abadi considered them interference in Iraq’s domestic affairs,” Fayyadh said at a press conference.
“The US Secretary of State is not qualified to comment on the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi,” he added. “The Hashd al-Shaabi is an instrumental force and has participated in the victory over ISIS and the defeat of the enemy in all areas in the last three years.”
“That’s the pride of all Iraqis,” Fayyadh said.
Fayyadh’s remarks come following a call by Tillerson on the Iran-backed militia to leave Iraq now that the war with ISIS is winding down.
Fayyadh’s words echo a similar reaction from PM Haider Abadi who said the Hashd were Iraqis and Tillerson had no right to tell Baghdad what to do.
“The Hashd al-Shaabi is representative of the Iraqi people who answered a call from the religious authorities and began defending this land and its holy sites,” Fayyadh said.
“We do not allow anyone insult these popular institutions,” he warned.
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