Qais Al-Khazali, Secretary-General of Asa'ib Ahl Al-Haq
Khazali praises Iran, Hezbollah on ISIS Victory Day anniversary
BAGHDAD – Qais al-Khazali, secretary-general of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, on Wednesday thanked Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah for their support during Iraq’s war against the Islamic State group, in a statement marking the eighth anniversary of Victory Day.
Khazali hailed what he called the “triumphant victory over the extremist Daesh elements,” saying, “We extend our greetings and blessings to the religious authority, to the families of our honorable martyrs and heroic wounded, and to our steadfast fighters, who gave everything in defense of the homeland and sacred sites.”
“We remember with reverence and appreciation all those who stood with us and provided support and assistance, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran, our brothers in the Islamic resistance, Hezbollah, and all the free and honorable people of the world, each according to their effort and honorable role,” he added.
His remarks about Hezbollah come a day after Iraq’s Committee for Freezing Terrorists’ Assets issued a revised decision removing Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis from the country’s terror-financing list, formally correcting what authorities described as an “error” caused by publishing an unedited draft in the official gazette. The initial listings had triggered political backlash, protests and a wave of statements from state institutions denying involvement before the correction was issued.
Khazali also quoted a Quranic verse, describing the confrontation as a battle between “a group fighting in the cause of Allah and another disbelieving group.” He called for preserving what he described as Iraq’s “great achievements on the battlefield.”
The Islamic State group, also known as ISIS, emerged from the remnants of al-Qaida in Iraq and in 2014 seized large areas of territory in Iraq and Syria, declaring a so-called “caliphate” from Mosul under the leadership of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. The group enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law and carried out mass executions, enslavement and other abuses.
Iraq declared victory over ISIS in December 2017 after regaining control of all territory the group once held. While ISIS no longer governs land, its remnants continue to operate as an insurgent force and carry out low-level attacks, mainly in rural and remote areas.