Iran press/Middle East: Iraqi Shia cleric Muqtada al- Sadr, head of the al-Saeroon coalition and the leader of Saraya al-Salam, a Shia group operating under Hashd al-Shaabi, has welcomed the decision by PM Adil Abdul-Mahdi to merge Hashd al-Shaabi popular mobilization forces with Iraqi armed forces.
Sadr in his statement on Twitter expressed his readiness to dissolve his Shia faction of Saraya al-Salam as part of the new policy, pointing out that this could be a positive step towards establishing a stronger country.
Sadr also expressed hope that the rights of the members of the Saraya al-Salam will be preserved after the order is implemented.
Secretary general of the A?ayib Ahl al-Haq movement Sheikh Qais al-Khazali in a statement on Twitter supported Abdul-Mahdi decree, saying the decision was a professional step in preserving Hashd al-Shaabi as a stable part of the Iraqi armed forces.
He stated that the decree would neutralize efforts of dissolution of the popular mobilization forces.
Meanwhile, leader of the Sunni Al-Qarar political movement Osama al-Nujaifi welcomed Abdul-Mahdi decision to monopolize weapons in the hands of the armed forces of the country as a step towards strengthening Iraqi sovereignty.
Abdul-Mahdi has ordered the Hashd al-Shaabi to be part of the national army, according to which, there will be no difference between the Shia militias and Iraqi forces in terms of regulations.
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