The Deputy of al-Sistani in Karbala, Sheikh Abdel Mahdi al-Karbalai announced, yesterday in the Friday sermon that responding to attacks by armed groups in Iraq is the duty of all parties, pointing out that the person being killed  during the defense of the land of Iraq is considered a "martyr."

Sistani's office said in a statement issued by his office today, reported for "Shafaq News", that “ the employees are not charged now with defending Iraq duty until necessity provide it."