Latest news with #PopularMobilizationForces
Shafaq News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraq pushes PMF Law forward despite US warnings of Iranian influence
Shafaq News As the Iraqi Parliament advances legislation to formalize the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as an independent security institution, tensions with the United States are escalating. Washington warns the bill could entrench Iranian influence and undermine Iraqi sovereignty, while Iraqi officials insist the move is a long-overdue recognition of a key component of the national defense structure. The proposed law, known informally as the amended PMF Authority Law, is being debated amid a wider struggle over Iraq's security architecture and regional alignments. US officials view the legislation as a potential shift in the balance of power within Iraq's armed forces, one that may prioritize loyalty to Tehran-aligned factions over the Iraqi state. 'Legislating this type of law will entrench Iranian influence and terrorist armed groups that undermine Iraq's sovereignty,' US Secretary of State Marc Rubio reportedly told Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani in a phone call last Wednesday, according to State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. In response, al-Sudani defended the legislation, describing it as part of a broader security reform initiative passed by parliament. He emphasized that the PMF remains under the authority of the commander-in-chief and operates as an official security formation alongside Iraq's military and intelligence institutions. What the New PMF Law Proposes The legislation—now in its second reading in parliament—would repeal the 2016 law and reconstitute the PMF as a permanent, autonomous military body. Key provisions include: -Granting the PMF financial and administrative independence. -Formalizing it alongside institutions like the National Intelligence and National Security Services. -Authorizing new formations under the PMF umbrella. -Giving the PMF commission chief broad authority to implement restructuring and development. According to the Prime Minister's office, the draft law aims to improve institutional cohesion and extend benefits to families of fallen fighters. Iraqi Lawmakers Defend the PMF Iraqi lawmakers have pushed back against US objections, asserting that the PMF is a state-aligned institution. 'The Popular Mobilization Forces are an Iraqi security institution that receives salaries from the government and takes orders from the Commander-in-Chief, just like other security agencies,' said Ali Ni'ma al-Bandawi, member of the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee, in comments to Shafaq News. Al-Bandawi emphasized the PMF's origin following Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's 2014 fatwa to defend the country against ISIS, calling it a 'sacred ideological force.' He said the law would enhance organizational structure and improve fighters' welfare, not deepen foreign ties. 'American and other foreign interference in drafting laws for the Iraqi Council of Representatives is unacceptable.' Al-Bandawi also criticized the withdrawal of some parliamentary blocs during the July 16 session, calling it 'a misguided step,' and reiterated that the Coordination Framework and State Administration Coalition hold enough votes to pass the law without consensus but prefer to preserve political partnership. Divisions Inside Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al- Mashhadani, in a recent televised interview, revealed that the US had sent messages to Iraqi political leaders expressing support for integrating the PMF—not expanding its autonomy. He warned that the draft law lacked clarity regarding PMF roles and authorities, making it difficult to implement effectively. This prompted backlash from MPs, who accused him of undermining national consensus and began collecting signatures to demand his removal. The law passed its second reading during the July 16 parliamentary session, chaired by First Deputy Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi, with 172 out of 329 lawmakers in attendance. Some Kurdish and Sunni MPs staged a walkout in protest. Expert Warnings of Strategic Fallout Western analysts view the legislation as a turning point. 'The law appears to institutionalize a military structure that is not fully loyal to the Iraqi government,' said Thomas Warrick, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council and former US official at the Department of Homeland Security. 'The United States would prefer to see PMF members integrated into regular army units rather than maintaining autonomous formations.' Warrick acknowledged that some of the draft law's provisions are administrative in nature, but argued that others 'cause deep concern,' particularly regarding command chains and foreign influence. He emphasized that the US seeks a unified national military under elected constitutional leaders and remains wary of past cases where PMF leadership showed stronger loyalty to foreign actors than to Iraq's government. Ahmed Al-Yasiri, head of the Arab-Australian Center for Strategic Studies, echoed those concerns in remarks to Shafaq News, describing the PMF as a 'political institution' tied to Iranian regional strategy. He cited the US strike on PMF leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 as a reflection of Washington's view that the PMF threatened the US-designed post-2003 Iraqi security order. 'This law may grant legal cover to groups managed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in Iraq,' Al-Yasiri said, warning that passing the bill could severely strain US–Iraq relations and jeopardize American investment and security cooperation, especially in northern regions like Duhok and Erbil, which have seen recent drone attacks blamed on Iran-linked armed forces. He added that the Al-Sudani government may be seeking to end the current legislative term with a 'containment measure' aimed at stabilizing internal dynamics—but risks alienating international partners. Alternative Perspective: A Shield of Sovereignty Sabah al-Akili, a Baghdad-based political commentator, described US opposition as 'a blatant violation of Iraq's sovereignty,' accusing Washington of attempting to dismantle regional power structures that challenge Israeli and American interests. 'Any politician who abstains from supporting the PMF law is aligning with foreign agendas,' he told Shafaq News, arguing that neutralizing the PMF would expose Iraq to destabilization and regional fragmentation. He pointed to developments in Syria's Suwayda region and Lebanon as part of what he described as a wider campaign to redraw Middle Eastern borders through proxy manipulation and disarmament efforts targeting anti-Western forces. What Comes Next? If passed in its current form, the PMF law would deepen the divide between Iraq's Shiite-dominated political forces and US regional interests. It could trigger renewed scrutiny of US aid programs and military cooperation, especially if American bases or partners in Iraq become targets of groups shielded by the new legal framework. With Kurdistan Region factions already expressing concern, and Sunni parties signaling defection from the legislative process, the law could also reawaken sectarian and federalist tensions. At the same time, proponents argue that formalizing the PMF is essential for preserving national unity—and that sidelining it could invite greater chaos and foreign intervention.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
PMF Sparks Dispute between Washington and Baghdad
The United State has rejected the law on the legalization of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), which is aligned with Iran. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held telephone talks on Wednesday with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on the latest developments in Iraq. A State Department statement said Rubio 'reiterated serious US concerns with the Popular Mobilization Commission (PMC) bill currently pending in the Council of Representatives (COR), emphasizing that any such legislation would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty.' Rubio later posted on X: 'We support a prosperous Iraq, free of Iran's pernicious influence.' Rubio also spoke to Sudani about the recent attacks on energy infrastructure, including those operated by US companies. He stressed the importance of the Iraqi government holding the perpetrators accountable and preventing future attacks, added the State Department. The Iraqi government has been investigating the recent attacks in northern Iraq with reports widely suspecting Shiite factions of perpetrating them. Meanwhile, Sudani's press office said Iraq supports efforts to consolidate stability in the region and the sustainability of ceasefire agreements. The PM added that the recent attacks on oil companies 'target Iraq's national economy.' On the PMF, Sudani informed Rubio that legislation is part of 'security reform' efforts adopted by his government. 'The PMF is an official Iraqi military institution that works under the authority of the commander of the armed forces,' read the statement from Sudani's office. The main factions of the pro-Iran Coordination Framework have been pushing for legislations that would enshrine new laws related to the recruitment of PMF fighters. Head of the Center for Political Thinking in Iraq, Dr. Ihssan Shmary told Asharq Al-Awsat that the US has started to focus more on Iraq in recent months in wake of the American strikes on Iran. The telephone call between Rubio and Sudani revealed American reservations over the PMF and armed groups in Iraq, he added. Washington has started to sense that Iran was beginning to consolidate its influence in Iraq through the PMF laws, which led it intervene directly through diplomatic channels, he remarked.
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
PM Al-Sudani, Secretary Rubio discuss PMF regulation
Shafaq News – Baghdad On Wednesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks covering several key security and economic issues. At the center of the discussion was the draft law regulating the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a crucial element of Iraq's ongoing security reforms. According to the Prime Minister's media office, the legislation, approved by parliament, aligns with existing frameworks for the National Intelligence and National Security services, emphasizing that the PMF operates under the authority of the Iraqi army's commander-in-chief. 'The full integration of the PMF into Iraq's formal military structure is essential for maintaining national unity and security,' al-Sudani added. The officials also examined recent attacks on oil facilities across the Kurdistan Region, Saladin, and Kirkuk provinces, characterizing them as 'assaults on Iraq's economy,' further posing threats to vital revenues and Regional stability. In response, al-Sudani reaffirmed Baghdad's support for regional ceasefires and ongoing efforts to ease tensions through de-escalation measures. Turning to internal fiscal matters, the prime minister drew attention to a cabinet decision requiring the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to transfer oil and non-oil revenues to the federal treasury, noting that this follows the 2024 Budget Law and a Federal Supreme Court ruling aimed at resolving longstanding financial disputes with Erbil. The conversation concluded with plans to resume crude exports through the Iraq–Turkiye pipeline, which has been inactive since March 2023, along with renewed measures to prevent smuggling and safeguard Iraq's natural resources.
Rudaw Net
3 days ago
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Iraqi parliament to convene on Kurdistan Region drone attacks
Also in Iraq Iraq cannot control militias attacking Kurdistan Region, says MP Iraq records 16 new cases of Crimean-Congo fever Iraq arrests 40 over alleged baathist plots, sectarian incitement PM Barzani says Baghdad added new condition to finance agreement A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The Iraqi parliament is set to meet in an extraordinary session on Monday to discuss the recent drone attacks targeting critical oil infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region. Dozens of drone strikes have targeted the Kurdistan Region since the beginning of July, primarily striking oil fields. The attacks have incurred heavy financial losses on the Region and Kurdish officials have held Iraqi government-affiliated 'criminal militias' responsible. The official agenda published by the Iraqi parliament's media office said that a 'general discussion regarding terrorist attacks on infrastructure in the Kurdistan Region' will be part of the special session. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has blamed the attacks on Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a charge Baghdad has denied. The Kurdistan Region's Presidency, Council of Ministers, and Ministry of Natural Resources have all strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as attempts to cripple the Region's vital oil infrastructure. They called on the federal government to hold the perpetrators to account. Aziz Ahmad, deputy chief of staff to Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, said on Saturday that the explosive-laden drones that targeted oil fields were launched from Kirkuk province. No group has claimed responsibility. There have been no new attacks since Erbil and Baghdad reached a new agreement on finances and oil exports on Thursday. The session will also discuss the 'Kut fire incident,' according to the agenda. A massive fire at a newly opened shopping mall in Wasit's provincial capital of Kut late Wednesday killed at least 77 people and sparked outrage from the Iraqi public over lax safety standards. Most deaths were caused by smoke inhalation, with no emergency exits in place for victims to use.
5 days ago
- Politics
Iraq makes 'decisive findings' about drone attacks without identifying who targeted its bases
BAGHDAD -- BAGHDAD (AP) — Drones used to attack military bases in Iraq during the recent Israel-Iran war were manufactured outside Iraq but were launched inside its territory, according to the 'decisive findings' of an investigation published on Friday. The report of an investigative committee formed under the directive of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani did not identify who was behind the attacks that targeted radar and air defense systems last month. The attacks on several military bases, including some housing U.S. troops, damaged radar systems at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad, and at Imam Ali Base in Dhi Qar province. Iraqi army spokesperson Sabah Al-Naaman said the investigation had reached 'decisive findings.' He said the drones used were manufactured outside Iraq but were launched from locations inside Iraqi territory. All drones used in the attacks were of the same type, indicating that a single actor was behind the entire campaign, he said. Al-Naaman said the investigation had identified the entities responsible for coordinating and executing the operations, but he did not name them. 'Legal measures will be taken against all those involved, and they will be referred to the Iraqi judiciary to be held accountable in accordance with the law,' the statement said. Before the drone attacks, Iran-backed Iraqi militias had previously threatened to target American bases if the U.S. attacked Iran. Some of the militias are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of armed groups that is officially under the command of the Iraqi military, although in practice they largely act independently. More recently, several oil fields in the semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region have come under attack by drones, further exacerbating tensions between the central government and Kurdish authorities and raising concerns over the security of Iraq's critical infrastructure.
