Lieutenant General Abdul Wahhab al-Saadi confirmed on Sunday that he had implemented the order of Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi and joined the Iraqi Defense Ministry
Saadi was previously head of the elite Counter-Terrorism Service, but Abdul Mahdi last week ordered that he join the Defense Ministry, effectively removing him from his post and prompting outrage in Iraq.
No reason was given for the transfer.
Saadi is one of the most prominent commanders who led the war against ISIS in Iraq. He suffered injuries throughout the battle and is often hailed as a hero. Uproar over his dismissal has been unprecedented in the country.
“My mission in the Defense Ministry will be no less important than my mission in the Counter-Terrorism Service. I am a loyal soldier who is serving my country and people,” Saadi said on Sunday, according to the Iraqi news agency (INA).
Abdul Mahdi had declared Sunday that he would not be going back on his decision to transfer Saadi to the ministry. The PM hailed Saadi, describing him as a brave officer, “but thee duty of the officer is to obey orders without objection and away from the media.”
“He does not get to choose where he gets transferred to,” said Abdul Mahdi, who also serves as Iraq’s commander of the armed forces.
He added that Saadi’s transfer may end up positively impacting the military, accusing some officers of “heading to foreign embassies, which is an issue we must firmly address.”
