Popular Mobilisation Forces | Iraq’s militias within the military
This article traces the origins of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) following a 2014 fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. It explains how these militias evolved from a volunteer response to the Islamic State into a significant paramilitary force within the Iraqi state structure.
Why it matters
The PMF remains a pivotal and controversial actor in Iraqi politics and regional security, reflecting the complex influence of Iran and religious authority in the Middle East.
On June 13, 2014, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani , Iraq’s top Shia cleric, issued a fatwa asking Iraqis to join the fight against terrorism. “The nature of the situation and the dangers facing Iraq and its people at the present time require defending the country, its people and the honour of its citizens,” said the cleric in his edict, which was read out by his representative Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi al-Karbalai, during Friday prayers in Karbala.
U.S. military says its withdrawal of troops from Iraq complete
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