Alwaght- Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi vowed Saturday to maintain the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) fighting ISIS alongside regular government forces.
Al-Abadi has categorically ruled out the dismantling of PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, adding that it is operated under the supervision of the Iraqi government and religious leadership and was recognized by the state, making it clear that the group would not be dissolved.
PMF is a group mostly composed of volunteer Shiite and Sunni fighters that was formed after the emergence of the Takfiri ISIS terrorist group in Iraq in 2014. In the early days of ISIS’s terror campaign, the then-volunteer fighters played a major role in reinforcing the Iraqi army, which had suffered heavy setbacks in the face of lightening advances by the terrorists.
Abadi’s remarks came one day after Shiite cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr called to ensure the PMF was operating under the state’s oversight.
Delivering a speech to hundreds of thousands of his followers during a demonstration at al-Tahrir Square in Baghdad, al-Sadr urged to incorporate the mobilization forces within the official Iraqi army, and stressed on the importance of “placing weapons within the state’s hands exclusively”. The demonstration on Friday were organized upon a call from al-Sadr to protest the electoral system designed for the local elections slated for early 2018, which he deems unfair.
Those remarks came a few days after Sadr made a rare visit to Saudi Arabia, where he met with Saudi Crown Prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman.
Saudis had also reportedly awarded special visas to the members of Sadr’s office for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
Last November, the Iraqi parliament recognized PMF as an official force with similar rights as those of the regular army.
Several days ago, the Iraqi Army backed by PMF launched a large-scale operation against ISIS Takfiri terrorist group in the northwestern district of Tal Afar. PMF played a crucial role in the eviction of ISIS terrorist group from its de facto capital in Iraq, Mosul, June this year after occupying the key city since June 2014.
