Latest news with #PopularMobilizationForces
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Iraqi PMF leaders urge neutrality as election tensions rise
Shafaq News/ As Iraq prepares for its parliamentary elections on November 11, tensions are mounting within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), with senior leaders urging fighters to remain neutral and resist political pressures. On Saturday, Hamid al-Yasiri, commander of the PMF's 'Ansar al-Marjaiya' brigade, called on all PMF members to avoid involvement in electoral rivalries and to maintain loyalty to the religious fatwa* of Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani. 'We hear of ongoing conflicts and defamation campaigns within the PMF ranks,' al-Yasiri said. 'You are followers of the fatwa—your commitment lies with it alone, not with any political party." Al-Yasiri warned that political entanglement would undermine the PMF's credibility and diminish the respect earned through sacrifices on the battlefield. 'You are not brokers for electoral blocs, and you must not yield to any political pressure, regardless of the consequences,' he addressed PMF fighters. 'If you engage in political conflicts, you will lose your status in the eyes of the people.' His remarks come amid concerns over the PMF's role in the electoral process. Under Iraqi Election Law, security forces—including the PMF—cast their ballots one to two days before the general public vote to ensure election-day security. This early voting system has historically raised questions about the potential politicization of these forces. Meanwhile, the PMF's official leadership also weighed in on the electoral climate. In a statement issued Friday, the PMF condemned recent claims by a political figure alleging that some tribal units within the forces lack proper registration and include wanted individuals. The statement dismissed these allegations as 'baseless and sectarian,' affirming that all PMF units, including tribal formations, have fully documented records with the PMF's central intelligence and security directorates. The leadership cautioned that such rhetoric threatens to inflame divisions at a time when national unity is crucial. 'These are attempts to exploit the PMF's contributions for political gain,' it said, urging political actors to uphold the integrity of the PMF and respect its national mission. Iraq's upcoming election—its first in four years—will see nearly 29 million Iraqis eligible to vote, following the cabinet's decision in April to set the date for November 11. *A fatwa is an official legal opinion or interpretation issued by a qualified Islamic scholar (called a mufti) in response to a question about Islamic law (sharia). A fatwa is not legally binding in most contexts—it's a religious guideline or ruling on how to behave per Islamic principles. A fatwa might clarify how to perform religious duties, provide guidance on social or political issues, or settle disputes within a community. In Iraq, the famous 2014 fatwa by Al-Sistani, calling on Iraqis to join the fight against ISIS, was a key factor in the PMF formation.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
US Congress members call to sanction Iranian-backed militias in Iraq
US congress members called to sanction several Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the Popular Mobilization Forces, in a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The US should sanction Iranian-backed militias in Iraq, including the powerful Popular Mobilization Forces, US Members of Congress Joe Wilson and Greg Steube asserted in a letter to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The PMF include numerous militias arranged in dozens of brigades. Most of the militias are linked closely to Iran and have carried out numerous crimes in Iraq. According to the letter the PMF are 'an umbrella group of 238,000 Iranian-backed militias, have been legitimized as part of Iraq's state security services and receive over $3 billion annually from the Iraqi government—funded in part by American taxpayer dollars. Since 2015, the US Department of State has provided Iraq with $1.25 billion in Foreign Military Financing, in addition to billions more in aid to Iraq's Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry, despite these institutions being deeply infiltrated by Iranian proxies. These same Iran-backed militias, now operating with legal authority under the PMF, have launched rocket attacks on US bases in Iraq and Syria.' Wilson and Steube began their letter by noting, 'We write to express our deep concern over the complete subjugation of Iraq to the Iranian regime. More than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives since the start of the Iraq War, yet today, Iraq stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran. This outcome is the direct result of disastrous policies that, under previous administrations, empowered Iran's control over Iraq's government, military, and economy.' They added 'The National Security Policy Memorandum-2 (NSPM-2) of February 4, 2025 clearly articulates the reimposition of maximum pressure on Iran and its terror proxies. However, any campaign against the Iranian regime will require an equally robust campaign against Iraqi institutions, which have become essential clients of the Iranian regime.' The report argues that the US should expand sanctions on the various militias. The US has already sanctioned Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq, and some other militias and their leaders. The members of Congress say that the US should sanction the PMF as well as 'the Muhandis General Company, and the Badr Organization as foreign terrorist organizations.' They also call for sanctions on Iraq's importation of Iranian gas. They also said a bank in Iraq and a number of individuals who support Iran should be sanctioned. These include 'former Prime Ministers Nouri al-Maliki and Adel Abdulmehdi, Izzat Shabander, Hadi al-Ameri, AbdulKarim al-Sudani, Abbas Shia al-Sudani, Haider Shia al-Sudani, Abdul Karim al-Faisal, Yasser Suhail al Maliki, Minister of Higher Education Naem al-Aboud, Governor Adnan Feihan,' and others. This is an important development and illustrates how the US is moving to potentially clip the wings of Iran's role in Iraq. For instance, Kataib Hezbollah, which is part of the PMF, continues to hold Elizabeth Tsurkov, a researcher who is also an Israeli citizen. Tsurkov was kidnapped in 2023 in Iraq while doing research. She is a doctoral student at Princeton. Her kidnapping was orchestrated by the Iranian-backed militias. Reports from Iraq indicate that Baghdad is seeking to harm the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq by not paying salaries. This illustrates how Baghdad is destabilizing Iraq through its policies.
Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Rubio urged to punish Iraq with 'maximum pressure' sanctions for its 'complete subjugation' by Iran
FIRST ON FOX: A pair of House Republicans are urging Secretary Marco Rubio to punish Iraq with sanctions for its "complete subjugation" by Iran as part of the U.S.'s "maximum pressure" policy toward Tehran. "More than 4,400 American service members sacrificed their lives since the start of the Iraq War, yet today, Iraq stands as nothing more than a puppet of Tehran," Reps. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., and Greg Steube, R-Fla., wrote in a letter to the secretary of state and interim national security advisor. The letter laid blame on the Obama administration, arguing former President Barack Obama and his Iraq envoy Brett McGurk "propped up" Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whose leadership was marred by brutal political crackdowns and led to the rise of ISIS. "The Obama administration doubled down on its mistakes, relying on Iranian-backed militias to fight ISIS," the letter read. "The consequences of those failed decisions are now undeniable: Iran-backed forces wield unchecked power over Iraq's government and security services." Since 2015, the U.S. has offered Iraq's forces $1.25 billion in foreign military financing, in addition to billions more for the interior ministry and defense ministry. Iran's influence over Iraq was on full display when, in 2021, Iraq issued an arrest warrant for President Donald Trump for the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, even as the U.S. still has 2,500 forces on the ground in Iraq to partner with local forces and fight ISIS. Steube and Wilson called on the U.S. to cut all foreign aid to Iraq until it comes out from under Iran's influence. The letter calls for the U.S. to sanction Iraq's importation of Iranian gas. Currently, only payment for the gas is under sanction, meaning Iran gives fuel to Iraq without charge but expects repayment in other ways. The Trump administration ended a waiver that allowed Iraq to buy Iranian electricity in March. The lawmakers called for designating the Popular Mobilization Forces, an Iranian-backed paramilitary group operating in Iraq, and its financial backers as foreign terrorist groups and sanctioning Iraq's state banks that financially support Iran. It also called for sanctions on Iraq's political figures that allow Iranian influence to flourish. "We urge you to take immediate action to implement these necessary policies and ensure that American resources are no longer used to prop up Iran's control over Iraq." The U.S. initially invaded Iraq in 2003, toppling Saddam Hussein's regime and drawing down its troop presence from wartime levels in 2007 and leaving altogether in 2011, before returning in 2014 at the head of the coalition to fight the Islamic State. Other nations, including Germany, France, Spain and Italy, also contribute hundreds of troops to the coalition. In September, reports emerged that the Biden administration was working on a plan to draw down the U.S. troop presence in Iraq within the year, but no set-in-stone decision was made. Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department and the Iraqi Embassy for comment.
Asharq Al-Awsat
6 days ago
- General
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saddam's Tribe Weighs Option of Running in Iraq's 2025 Election
The tribe of late Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is quietly searching for a candidate to represent it in Iraq's parliamentary elections scheduled for the end of 2025, despite strong internal opposition and growing fears of political backlash, tribal and political sources said. The al-Bu Nasir tribe, historically tied to Saddam, has long refrained from openly fielding candidates due to deep-rooted hostility and political stigmatization that have persisted since the former regime's fall in 2003. Influential groups in Baghdad, particularly those with links to Iran-backed factions, are seen as likely to revive accusations and historical grievances if a candidate emerges from the tribe, the sources added. The effort comes as armed factions, some aligned with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), intensify their political outreach in Salahuddin province, where Saddam was born and remains a divisive figure. Prominent families from the al-Bu Nasir tribe are still barred from returning to their ancestral village of Al-Awja, near Tikrit, which remains under the control of the PMF's 35th Brigade. The area has been off-limits to many former residents due to lingering security concerns and political sensitivities. While the tribe remains divided on whether to enter the political fray, the rising influence of militias and a shifting electoral landscape may prompt some factions within it to reconsider their traditional stance of political withdrawal. Two developments in Salahuddin province last week have offered a glimpse into Iraq's shifting electoral landscape, as both Shiite militias and Sunni tribal leaders maneuver ahead of the elections in the Sunni-majority region north of Baghdad. In a move that raised eyebrows, Qais al-Khazali, head of the Iran-aligned Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia, met with tribal leaders and local figures in Tikrit, the provincial capital. The meeting stirred speculation over a potential alliance with Saddam's al-Bu Nasir tribe, once the backbone of the former regime. At the same time, senior figures from the al-Bu Nasir held private talks to discuss whether to nominate a candidate for parliament, according to sources close to the tribe. But the meetings ended without agreement, reflecting deep divisions over the risks of returning to the political stage. 'Many families within the tribe remain hesitant,' one tribal source said. 'They fear political competition could become a noose around what remains of the Saddam legacy.' A faction within the tribe argues that re-engaging in politics is essential to resolve long-standing issues, chief among them, the inability to return to their home village of Al-Awja. But another current warns that any attempt to re-enter politics could bring more harm than good, with one source calling the potential price of representation 'too heavy for anyone to bear.' Analysts say any successful reintegration of Saddam's tribe into Iraqi politics, especially through alliances with Shiite factions, is still premature. Still, some tribal figures believe the door is not entirely closed. 'The al-Bu Nasir are trying to change their circumstances, even if symbolically, by participating in the political process,' said Marwan al-Jubara, spokesman for the Salahuddin Tribal Council. 'They're thinking about a future in a post-Saddam Iraq,' he told Asharq Al-Awsat. 'They want to return to their region, but right now, they live outside it and are still banned from going back.'
Shafaq News
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Mounting challenges divides Iraqi Parliament ahead of return
Shafaq News/ The Iraqi parliament is expected to reconvene after its legislative recess to address mounting challenges, including unresolved budget issues and political gridlock, MP Jawad Al-Yasari told Shafaq News on Friday. Al-Yasari affirmed that the parliamentary sessions were paralyzed by political blocs before the recess, which began on May 9 and will last 30 days. 'Some party leaders instructed their members not to attend unless certain laws were included on the agenda, which is within their right,' he indicated. The MP explained that the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) law was a major source of the disruption, adding that there was infighting among Shiite factions. 'Some pushed for the law to honor the PMF's sacrifices and protect their rights, while others opposed it to prevent PMF commanders, many of whom are elderly, from being subject to retirement regulations.' 'There are many pressing issues requiring the parliament to resume its work, despite political parties being preoccupied with preparing electoral lists and forming alliances ahead of the November legislative elections,' Al-Yasari noted. On May 5, parliament failed to hold a scheduled session due to lack of quorum—an issue that has persisted for months. The Iraqi parliament has convened only 132 times since the start of its current term in January 2022—just 51% of the 256 sessions required by its internal rules. The legislative calendar mandates eight sessions per month over four-month terms.
