For years now, Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces have been recognized as a danger to both American national security interests and Iraqi civilians, with U.S.-designated terrorists holding senior PMF leadership posts (including chairman and chief of staff) while exploiting the force’s structure to provide government paychecks to tens of thousands of rank-and-file militia members belonging to designated terrorist groups like Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq. Despite this blatant puppeteering by Iran-backed elements accused of killing Iraqis and U.S. troops alike, Baghdad is currently considering two pieces of legislation that would further legitimize the PMF as a permanent national security institution.
The Danger of Letting Iraq’s PMF Authority Law Pass | The Washington Institute
