Armed Factions Announce Postponement of Military Moves in Response to Political Mediation and Calls for De-escalation

Armed factions operating under the umbrella of what is known as the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" announced the postponement of their military response, which was scheduled to be carried out in retaliation for airstrikes targeting Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters that resulted in multiple casualties. The factions explained in an official statement that the decision to delay came in response to appeals made by prominent political leaders, aiming to pave the way for diplomatic efforts to contain the crisis. The statement stressed that the blood of the victims is not subject to compromise, delivering a stern message to foreign forces asserting that national sovereignty is not reclaimed through timid statements, but through firm actions. Notably, political figures had earlier called for de-escalation and the delay of any military escalation to give ongoing diplomatic efforts a chance to spare the region further tensions.