Hezbollah Statement on the Withdrawal of US Forces from Iraq

Hezbollah congratulates Iraq, its religious authority, government, and people, on this great historic achievement and blessed victory represented by the departure of US forces from its territory, humiliated and subdued, after all their ambitions had been dashed and they had failed to achieve their intended objectives in the face of the will of the free Iraqi people. This comes more than two decades after the invasion and occupation, and all the terrorism, domination, oppression, and persecution inflicted upon the Iraqi people, the sowing of discord among its people, and the plundering of the country's wealth, leaving behind tragedies, destruction, and suffering.

This achievement would not have been possible without the steadfastness of the proud Iraqi people, their valiant resistance, their free and resolute will, and their firm determination to confront the occupation and expel it from their land, as well as the immense sacrifices they made in pursuit of this goal, including thousands of martyrs and wounded. It is yet another confirmation that, no matter how much time passes and how great the sacrifices become, no matter how immense the occupier's tyranny, arrogance, domination, and brutality, and no matter how many instruments of power and repression it possesses, it will never be able to subjugate free peoples or break their will. Its fate will be decline, defeat, and downfall in the face of these peoples' awareness, steadfastness, resistance, and unity in upholding their right to freedom, sovereignty, and independence.

As we congratulate Iraq on this historic event, we wish it continued pride, dignity, and prosperity, and wish its people, leaders, and religious authorities lasting peace and success. We also salute the fighters, the martyrs, the wounded, and all free people whose sacrifices and blood paved the way for the beginning of the end of the US military presence in our region.