Iraqis celebrated Thursday the 101st anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army, established on January 6, 1921, as several Iraqi officials sent congratulatory messages to the army on this occasion.

In a statement, the Iraqi Ministry of Defense touched on the heroism of the Iraqi Army whose "blood of martyrs paved the path to victory," not only in Iraq but in the entire Arab world.

The statement read that the Iraq army has developed over the past years, becoming one of the best in the world in terms of equipment.

Iraqi President Barham Salih congratulated the Army on the anniversary of its establishment, stressing the need to support it with the high status it deserves.

"A proud homage to the Iraqi army on its founding day, recalling its heroic legacy to defend the homeland and defeat terrorism," Salih tweeted.

Similarly, Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi stressed that the Iraqi Army "in all its forms, is the guarantee for the existence of a strong, dear, independent Iraq."

The Iraqi Armed Forces "defeated terror, and will protect Iraqi’s identity," he tweeted.

We salute our heroic Army on its 101st anniversary, a tribute to all our armed forces who fought to defend Iraq, and protect its borders. Our Army preserves the independence of Iraq. They defeated terror, and will protect Iraqi’s identity.

— Mustafa Al-Kadhimi مصطفى الكاظمي (@MAKadhimi) January 5, 2022

For his part, the Head of Al-Fatah Alliance Hadi Al-Amiri congratulated the Iraqi army, reiterating his support "to reinforce the law and preserve the prestige of the state."

Al-Amiri paid homage to the Army's immortal sacrifices "in defending the homeland with heroic epics with their brothers in the rest of the security forces, The Police, The Popular Mobilization Forces, Counter-Terrorism Service, and the Peshmerga."

In addition, the leader of the Sadrist movement Muqtada Al-Sadr stressed his refusal to attack the army, whether verbally or otherwise, noting that "The strength of our army is a strength for the homeland."