'Resistance has won this round:' Kataib Hezbollah denies disarmament deal after US troops leave Iraq

Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militia, has rejected an agreement with Iraq's Prime Minister Ali Al Zaidi on disarming militias, despite US troops withdrawing from Iraq, according to a statement from the group's secretary general Abu Hussein Al Hamidawi. He said, "The resistance has won this round, and the victor is the one who imposes his conditions on the enemy," referring to the US-led coalition's departure from Iraq on Wednesday.

Originally, the September 30 deadline for the withdrawal was linked to the disarmament of militias, but it has been postponed to June next year.

The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which Kataib Hezbollah is part of, revealed late on Wednesday that they had been in negotiations for over 40 days through a quadripartite committee established by the Co-ordination Framework to discuss organizing their weapons in exchange for full sovereignty. However, they have not received a response from the government. The militia insists it is not bound by any political timeline and there is no need for speculation.

In contrast, Prime Minister Al Zaidi announced a commitment to "serious" measures to disarm Iran-backed armed groups on Thursday. He marked October 1 as the day of full Iraqi sovereignty following the complete withdrawal of international coalition forces. Al Zaidi stated that the government would work on disarming all non-Iraqi armed groups present on Iraqi territory and begin purchasing complete air defense systems to reinforce air sovereignty.

He also affirmed that the government will ensure Iraqi land and airspace are not used as a launch pad or corridor for any act threatening neighboring states. Regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces, he affirmed that the law approved on Wednesday will solidify their status within the security system under the commander-in-chief.

Kataib Hezbollah ordered its fighters to cease all military operations, except for targeting hostile aircraft violating the country's airspace, until the government completes its air defenses. Only two prominent pro-Tehran groups, Asaib Ahl Al Haq and Kataib Imam Ali, and Moqtada Al Sadr's Saraya Al Salam faction, claimed they have placed their weapons under state authority.

However, hardline factions like Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba have previously stated they will not disarm until foreign troops leave Iraq.