At 21:28 on 12 August, Harakat al-Jihad wal-Bina's official social media channel published remarks by MP Jawad Rahim al-Saadi of the parliamentary Security and Defence Committee, made during the committee's meeting with Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief Ali al-Zaidi, saying the file of the factions' weapons must be handled "through dialogue, understanding and national common ground," that faction members' capabilities could be used "within the framework of the state," and that the priority is strengthening Iraq's army and defences. Within the same twelve minutes, the statement in the name of Ashab al-Kahf carried on Jehad Brothers Team declared there were no weapons to hand over, and MP Alaa al-Haidari on Al-Nujaba TV asked how weapons could be handed over at all.
- Harakat al-Jihad wal-BinaHarakat al-Jihad wal-Bina — official13 Aug, 00:28
“Before disarming the factions, strengthen Iraq's army and its defences … the file of the factions' weapons must be handled through dialogue, understanding and national common ground … their energies, experience and capabilities can be used within the framework of the state”
قبل نزع سلاح الفصائل.. قوّوا جيش العراق ودفاعاته … معالجة ملف سلاح الفصائل يجب أن تكون عبر الحوار والتفاهم والمشتركات الوطنية … بالإمكان الاستفادة من طاقاتهم وخبراتهم وإمكاناتهم في إطار الدولة
- Jehad Brothers TeamNujaba — affiliated13 Aug, 00:40
“We have no weapons to hand over”
ليس لدينا سلاح للتسليم
- Al-Nujaba TVNujaba — official13 Aug, 00:52
“So how do we hand over the weapons?”
فكيف نسلم السلاح؟
The Iraqi government now faces two incompatible public answers from within the armed field on the same file, which raises the cost of presenting any agreed factional position on weapons.