Nucebe Movement Rejects Calls to Surrender Arms to State

NAJAF, Iraq — The Nucebe Movement has rejected calls to surrender its weapons to state authority. Speaking at an event in Najaf, Sheikh Nazim es-Said, Chairman of the movement's Executive Council, stated that such calls specifically target the resistance forces and the Popular Mobilization Forces (Hashd al-Shaabi). Said argued that any process regarding the disarmament file must be based on uniform criteria applicable to all parties. He asserted that the challenges facing the Shia component are rooted in long-term political and security projects rather than the possession of arms. Es-Said warned that current pressures could eventually extend to the state's own military and security institutions. These statements follow the granting of broad powers to Prime Minister Ali Zidi's government to bring weapons under state control. The National Coordination Framework, a Shia-led political alliance, has expressed its support for the government's initiative.