Defense Ministry announced it will pursue legal action against a senior IMIS unit deputy leader who called for the immediate disbandment of the Iraqi Army.
Deputy Harakat al-Nujaba head Yousif al-Nasri called for the army's immediate dissolution "because they are useless,” al-Nasri said in a Monday interview on Iraqi television channel al-Itijah.
“Soldiers are getting paid to flee once any fight or tensions arises anywhere in Iraq,” he added.
Iraq’s defense ministry confirmed plans to pursue legal action against al-Nasri in a Wednesday statement, condemning his “harsh and hateful” comments towards the army.
“We will take legal action against al-Nasri for his inappropriate comments,” it said.
Harakat al-Nujaba part of Iran-backed militias were designated a terror organization by the US in March 2019.
Nasr al-Shimari, Harakat al-Nujaba spokesperson and deputy secretary general, released a statement on Wednesday claiming that footage of the interview had been manipulated to create al-Nasri’s disparaging Iraqi Army remarks.