Ahmed Raissouni urges Arab states to arm resistance fighters amid regional alliances with Israel

Ahmed Raissouni, the former head of the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), has called on Arab nations to arm the «honorable resistance fighters and mujahideen». In a recent piece, Raissouni portrayed these fighters as «defenders of our lands, sacred sites, and stolen rights».

He justifies his appeal by noting that «Arab countries have sided with Israel and the United States in demanding that Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups lay down their arms».

Raissouni voiced his alarm at the «decline and dependency» plaguing the Arab world. He remarked that «some Arab states have forged cooperation agreements and military alliances with the Zionist enemy», though he did not specify which nations. Notably, Rabat inked a military and security cooperation deal with Tel Aviv in November 2021.

Raissouni's remarks follow Hezbollah's official refusal to relinquish its arsenal to the Lebanese army, as requested by Prime Minister Najib Mikati's administration.