Saraya al-Salam rejects changes to security arrangements in Samarra

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Saraya al-Salam, the armed wing of the Sadrist movement, said on Tuesday it rejects any attempt to alter the security arrangement in Samarra and will maintain its presence in the city until the security file is handed over to state institutions. The group welcomed a decree issued by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr directing Saraya al-Salam to fully separate from the National Shia Front and integrate into official state structures, saying the move represented a responsible national stance rather than a departure from the principles of its jihad march. In its statement, the command said its presence in Samarra is rooted in loyalty to those killed defending the city's holy shrines and in its duty to protect the city's security. It set conditions for any transfer of the security file to Iraqi security agencies, demanding that the process be kept free of political disputes. Saraya al-Salam called on the Iraqi government to form a commission under the Prime Minister, in his capacity as commander-in-chief, to oversee the handover. The statement followed the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Presidency's decision to relieve Samarra Operations Commander Ali Abdullah Lefte of his duties and appoint Yusuf Mezban Nasif in his place.