Shia leader Muqtada Sadr issued a written statement and said they took this step for the general interests of Iraq, and to strengthen the government to be formed, the army and the police force.

Sadr stated that the Saraya As Salam group within the Hashd al-Shaabi will continue its activity only in Baghdad, Samarra and Qerbela to the south of the country, and that all the rest of the armed units will be disbanded.

Sadr added that the current Saraya As Salam commanders are his advisors and that they have no other duties.

Sadr ordered the units under Saraya As Salam to turn in the weapons they received from the government to combat ISIS and stressed that it is strictly forbidden to take military action outside of the country.

Muqtada As Sadr had decided to pause Saraya As Salam activity in Basra on Thursday, and stated that these forces are prohibited from engaging in any issues other than “jihadi activity” in Iraq.

Sadr had decided to pause activity for the militia force in the Diyala region and others several times in the past.

Units under Saraya As Salam had settled in the Samarra region near Baghdad in 2014 against ISIS attacks and attempted to protect Shia graves there.