Baghdad- Leader of the Sayyed al-Shuhada Brigades, Abbas al-Zaidi, confirmed that the Israeli deterrence policy has ended, and that the resistance factions are the ones who hold the initiative. He warned that Israel’s crimes will lead to a dangerous slide in the region and a comprehensive regional war, noting that the resistance factions do not represent Iran, adding, “We are not a gun for hire.”
Al-Zaidi said in a special interview with Al Jazeera Net that the “treacherous operation” that targeted the head of the political bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), Ismail Haniyeh, has negative repercussions that extend beyond the borders of the region.
He stressed that “this method was adopted by the Zionist entity because it is unable to directly confront the resistance factions” in order to restore the deterrence that was eroded and ended forever.
Comprehensive regional war
The leader added that the reactions to Israel's crimes “will be very strong, and the effects will be negative, and threaten to slide the region into a comprehensive regional war, which is what Netanyahu seeks to do to free himself from international and internal trials in Israel.”
He also considered that “the resistance factions entered the conflict that was started by the Zionist entity, and they are a basic partner in defending all the resistance fighters in the region and the world,” stressing that the principle of unifying the arenas and the factions entering into a single combat axis is not the implementation of a specific agenda, but rather “a moral and religious duty,” and he said, “We do not represent Iran, and we are not a gun for hire, and our cause is a free humanitarian one.”
Al-Zaidi pointed out that the means of support between the resistance factions everywhere are multiple in their aspects, whether security, logistics, military or material, and he said, “We are not fans of war or killing, but we have firm foundations in combat, and we have a security doctrine and our capabilities are growing.”
He stressed that the factions of the “Axis of Resistance” have proven that they are participants in the new world order, and a main pole in shaping its shape, and have continuous communication to follow the field and a continuously updated information base for all axes, explaining, “We have the coordination without which the legendary steadfastness of the heroes of Gaza would not have been possible.
Haniya's blood
Commenting on the assassination of Hamas Political Bureau Chief Ismail Haniyeh, Al-Zaidi said, “Jihad and resistance grow with the blood of martyrs, and most of our martyrs are leaders, unlike the enemies hiding behind walls,” stressing that “Haniyeh’s blood will be the great supporter and tributary of the resistance, not the opposite.”
He explained that the situation in Iraq is different from other countries due to the presence of an official, popular, political and religious level represented by the references in Najaf and all of Iraq regardless of sect and religions, adding, “There may be differences here or there, but there is stability in the position towards the occupation and the position in Gaza.”
He pointed out that “the Resistance Coordination enjoys a unique decision and independence, neither Eastern nor Western, and it coordinates with all parties that confront Zionist and American arrogance in all parts of the world.”
Al-Zaidi explained that the “unity of the arenas” is what established the principle of participation and coordination, and he said, “We are honored to participate with the axis of resistance in responding to the assassination of Haniyeh or Mr. Mohsen (Fouad Shukr) or the targeting of Yemen and Jurf al-Nasr and others.
He stressed that the factions have constantly developing capabilities and capacities, “and what exists in Iraq exists in Yemen and Lebanon, and vice versa. The resistance's missiles and drones have been able to thwart the Zionist entity's air defenses despite the support of many countries for this entity.
US Forces Status
Regarding the withdrawal of American forces, Al-Zaidi said, “Our position is clear and firm on the issue of the American occupation, and we have given the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani an opportunity to expel those forces, and the government’s dialogues with the international coalition have yielded results, the latest of which is the coalition’s announcement of its imminent withdrawal from some bases in Iraq.”
Al-Zaidi stressed that the American forces are not wanted “because they founded the Islamic State organization and targeted services such as electricity and water and targeted the security forces.”
He added, “Our security forces are at the highest level of readiness to defend Iraq, expel terrorism, control the borders, and repel any attempts to undermine the country's security and sovereignty.”
Al-Zaidi said, “As for America, it did not provide anything to our forces during the war on ISIS. On the contrary, it supported them against our forces, and also directly targeted the security forces to lift the siege on those terrorist gangs.”
He pointed out that “the Iraqi security forces did not provide any warning of the return of ISIS, but the warning came from the United States, and we believe that it is one of the pressure cards it uses to blackmail in order to remain in Iraq.”
Al-Zaidi explained in his speech that “the occupier has many pressure cards on the Iraqi government, such as the services card, the dollar, and others,” adding, “We tell the government that it must seriously consider getting rid of all pressure cards, especially since America and its ally Israel are going through unenviable circumstances.”
Regarding the recent targeting of Ain al-Assad base in Anbar province, al-Zaidi stressed that “no Islamic faction has announced targeting al-Qaeda.”
He explained that resistance is not limited to Islamic groups, “There are secular and nationalist resistance movements, and now, in light of these circumstances and the flood of Al-Aqsa, many resistance factions have been formed that differ in their religious, nationalist and ideological orientations. Resistance is not limited to a religion, sect or nationality.”