Following the withdrawal of U.S. troops and coalition forces from Iraq, the Islamic Resistance, known as an alliance of Shiite armed groups in Iraq, announced that it would not surrender its weapons.
The Islamic Resistance listed the protection of Iraq’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity among its top priorities. The group said it would maintain its willingness to use weapons against parties it considers a threat to the country or the Iraqi people.

The statement emphasized opposition to attempts to take the weapons away from its members and said the weapons would remain under the control of the Islamic Resistance.

The group also said Iraq’s political and security decisions should be made independently of external intervention.
The Iraqi government had previously set September 30 as the deadline for transitioning to the collection of weapons under state control.