Latest news with #PopularMobilisationForces
Yahoo
30-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iraqi police, paramilitary fighters clash outside government building in Baghdad
The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed a government building. A gun battle erupted in Iraq's capital of Baghdad on Sunday between police and fighters from a state-sanctioned paramilitary force that includes Iran-backed groups, killing at least one police officer and leading to the arrest of 14 fighters, authorities said. The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed an Agriculture Ministry building as a new director was being sworn in, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of mostly Shi'ite paramilitary factions that was formally integrated into Iraq's state security forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran. PMF fighters storm Iraqi government building According to the Interior Ministry, the PMF fighters burst into the building during an administrative meeting, causing panic among staff who alerted police. Security sources and three employees at the scene said the fighters had wanted to stop the office's former director from being replaced. A statement from the Joint Operations Command, which reports directly to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that the detainees were PMF members and had been referred to the judiciary. At least one police officer was killed and nine others were wounded, police and hospital sources said. Sudani ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident, the command said. The arrested fighters belong to "PMF brigades 45 and 46," the statement added. Both brigades are affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed group, according to Iraqi security officials and sources within the PMF. Solve the daily Crossword
The National
28-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Public fury in Iraq after clashes between militia and security forces
Public anger is mounting in Iraq after deadly clashes between security forces and gunmen from an Iran -backed militia in Baghdad left two dead, with calls growing to disarm the groups or bring them firmly under state control. The violence was sparked when fighters stormed a government building to forcibly reinstate a dismissed director general in southern Baghdad. Security forces responded, triggering a gun battle that killed a policeman and taxi driver who were caught in the crossfire, security authorities said. At least 15 fighters have been arrested by the security forces, according to authorities. They are affiliated with the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) – an umbrella group formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. It is composed mainly of Iran-backed Shiite militias and is integrated into Iraq's armed forces. The fighters belong to the powerful Tehran-aligned Kataib Hezbollah, which is part of the PMF, a security official said. The Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, has ordered an investigation on the 'circumstances surrounding the incident and how the armed force moved without orders or proper approvals, attempted to take control of a government building and opened fire on security forces', according to a statement. In its own statement, the PMF said it would not 'tolerate any violation by any individual to the orders of security protocols'. It didn't give details on the incident or the measures that will be taken. The Co-ordination Framework, a political group consisting of mainly Iran-backed Shiite political parties and armed factions, and the main backer for Mr Al Sudani, denounced the incident in an emergency meeting. 'It is a breach of the law and state protocols,' it said in a statement, expressing its support for government measures to 'establish security, enforce the law, and preserve the state authority'. The Siyada coalition, which is led by the Sunni tycoon Khamis Al Khanjar, warned of the 'dangers of unregulated arms and outlaw groups,' accusing them of illegally seizing lands in southern Baghdad and causing 'demographic change' by driving out Sunni families. 'We have long warned that the Iraqi state cannot achieve true stability and sustainable development as long as these unregulated and illegal arms are moving freely,' it added. Ordinary Iraqis have expressed deep anger and frustration over the growing impunity of armed factions. For many, the latest violence is not just an isolated incident but a reflection of a broader collapse in state authority. 'This wasn't just a gunfight, it was an assault on the state,' a Baghdad shop owner in the area where clashes took place told The National on condition of anonymity, fearing reprisals. 'The fact that an armed group can storm a public office and challenge a government appointment with weapons is proof that we've lost control,' the 62-year-old father of three added. During the fight against ISIS, some of these militias were accused of human rights breaches against civilians in Sunni areas. The Iraqi government and PMF acknowledged these breaches as 'individual acts'. The US has blacklisted several PMF leaders, including its chairman Falih Al Fayyadh, in a bid to increase pressure on Iran's proxies in Iraq, sanctioning senior figures between 2019 and 2021 under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act. Mr Al Fayyadh is an ally of Mr Al Sudani and is set to run in parliamentary elections in November with him. After declaring ISIS defeated in late 2017, the PMF and mainly Tehran-aligned groups morphed into a major political and military power, growing more defiant towards the government and opposition groups. Since then, they have launched attacks against US troops in Iraq as well as in Syria, where they fought alongside Bashar Al Assad's forces in its civil war. The latest clashes came amid a push by Shiite political parties inside parliament to approve new amendments to the existing PMF law that would elevate their role as security forces. The new amendments were among the main issues discussed by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Mr Al Sudani in a phone call last week. Mr Rubio 'reiterated serious US concerns' with the PMF, emphasising that 'any such legislation would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty,' spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement. The US embassy on Monday called on the Iraqi government to 'take measures to bring these perpetrators and their leaders to justice without delay,' in a statement on X. 'Accountability is essential to upholding the rule of law and preventing further acts of violence,' it added. While officially part of Iraq's security apparatus under the control of the commander-in-chief, many of its factions maintain parallel chains of command and are widely believed to answer to Tehran. A photograph of the dead taxi driver was widely circulated on social media. Bullets ripped through his car when he passed by. 'His image is a grim symbol of a country held hostage by unaccountable militias,' the shop owner said. 'He was trying to earn a living,' he added. 'He didn't belong to any party or faction, and yet he paid for this power struggle. That picture is Iraq. We are all trapped in this chaos.'
Business Recorder
28-07-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Iraqi police clash with paramilitary fighters who stormed govt building
BAGHDAD: A gun battle erupted in Iraq's capital on Sunday between police and fighters from a state-sanctioned paramilitary force that includes Iran-backed groups, killing at least one police officer and leading to the arrest of 14 fighters, authorities said. The clash broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district after a group of fighters from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) stormed an Agriculture Ministry building as a new director was being sworn in, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, is an umbrella group of mostly Shi'ite paramilitary factions that was formally integrated into Iraq's state security forces and includes several groups aligned with Iran. According to the Interior Ministry, the PMF fighters burst into the building during an administrative meeting, causing panic among staff who alerted police. Security sources and three employees at the scene said the fighters had wanted to stop the office's former director from being replaced. A statement from the Joint Operations Command, which reports directly to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, confirmed that the detainees were PMF members and had been referred to the judiciary. At least one police officer was killed and nine others were wounded, police and hospital sources said. Sudani ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the incident, the command said.
Qatar Tribune
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Gunfight in Baghdad kills one as paramilitary group storms ministry
At least one police officer was killed and 14 fighters detained after a gun battle erupted in Iraq's capital with members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF). The violence on Sunday broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district when PMF fighters stormed a Ministry of Agriculture building during the appointment of a new director, the Interior Ministry said. The gunmen disrupted an official meeting, stirring panic among staff and an emergency police response team. Police responding to the scene 'came under fire', also resulting in injuries among security personnel. The ministry said 'it would not tolerate any party attempting to impose its will by force and threaten state institutions'. The PMF, known locally as Hashd al-Shaabi, is composed mainly of Shia paramilitaries formed to fight ISIL (ISIS), but has since been formally integrated into Iraq's armed forces. Several of its factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Security sources and witnesses inside the building said the fighters aimed to block the replacement of the former director. Hospital and police officials confirmed one officer was killed and nine others were wounded in the clash. (Agencies)
Al Jazeera
27-07-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Gunfight in Baghdad kills one as paramilitary group storms ministry
At least one police officer was killed and 14 fighters detained after a gun battle erupted in Iraq's capital with members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF), a state-sanctioned paramilitary umbrella that includes groups loyal to Iran. The violence on Sunday broke out in Baghdad's Karkh district when PMF fighters stormed a Ministry of Agriculture building during the appointment of a new director, the Interior Ministry said. The gunmen disrupted an official meeting, stirring panic among staff and an emergency police response team. Police responding to the scene 'came under fire', also resulting in injuries among security personnel. The ministry said 'it would not tolerate any party attempting to impose its will by force and threaten state institutions'. Group 'does not want to escalate' The PMF, known locally as Hashd al-Shaabi, is composed mainly of Shia paramilitaries formed to fight ISIL (ISIS), but has since been formally integrated into Iraq's armed forces. Several of its factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Security sources and witnesses inside the building said the fighters aimed to block the replacement of the former director. Hospital and police officials confirmed one officer was killed and nine others were wounded in the clash. A statement from Iraq's Joint Operations Command, which reports to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said the detained gunmen were referred to the judiciary. Those involved belonged to PMF brigades 45 and 46, units widely linked to Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq's most powerful Iran-aligned militias. An unnamed member of Kataib Hezbollah told AFP news agency that a fighter from the group was killed and six others were wounded. The group 'does not want to escalate' and will allow the judiciary to take its course, the group member said. In response to the escalation, al-Sudani ordered an investigative committee to look into the events. The PMF's continued influence in Iraqi politics and its armed confrontations with state institutions have raised concerns over the fragility of Iraq's security apparatus, and the blurred lines between formal authority and powerful militia. Battle for influence Over the years since the 2003 United States invasion of Iraq, a battle has played out in the country between Iran and the US for government influence. Among those working in alignment with Iran are a number of members of the PMF, which emerged in 2014 to fight ISIL. In 2017, the PMF's legitimacy was codified into law against the wishes of the Iraqi Ministries of Interior and Defence, and was brought under the oversight of Iraq's national security adviser.
