Popular Mobilization Forces

Popular Mobilization Forces
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Unit name	Popular Mobilization Forces
Native name	الحشد الشعبي
Founded	15 June 2014
Type	Paramilitary umbrella organization
Headquarters	Baghdad, Iraq
Commander	Falih al-Fayyadh

Popular Mobilization Forces. The Popular Mobilization Forces is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of approximately 40 distinct paramilitary groups, primarily Shia militias but also including Sunni, Christian, Yazidi, and Shabak units. It was officially formed in June 2014 following a fatwa issued by the influential Shia cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, which called for volunteers to defend Iraq against the Islamic State (ISIL) after its rapid capture of Mosul and large swathes of northern Iraq. The PMF played a crucial role in the Iraqi Civil War and its integration into the state's security apparatus has been a source of significant political debate and regional tension.

History and formation

The immediate catalyst for the creation was the stunning offensive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in June 2014, which saw the collapse of several Iraqi Army divisions and the fall of major cities including Mosul and Tikrit. In response, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a religious edict, or fatwa, calling for able-bodied citizens to join the security forces to defend the country, a call known as the "Kaf'ah" or "Sufficiency" decree. This fatwa led to the rapid mobilization of tens of thousands of volunteers, many of whom were organized by pre-existing Shia political and militant groups with long histories, such as the Badr Organization, Kata'ib Hezbollah, and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq. The Iraqi government, under then-Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, formally institutionalized these disparate factions into the Popular Mobilization Forces by law in November 2016, granting them legal status as an "independent military formation" within the Iraqi Armed Forces.

Organization and structure

The organization operates as a coalition of numerous individual factions, each maintaining its own command structure, leadership, and, in many cases, distinct ideological loyalties. The most powerful factions within it are Iran-aligned groups, often called the "Islamic Resistance" factions, which include Kata'ib Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and the Badr Organization, the latter being closely tied to the political party Hikma Movement. Its overall chairman is Falih al-Fayyadh, who also serves as Iraq's National Security Advisor. While officially under the command of the Prime Minister, operational control has often been decentralized, with significant influence exerted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps's Quds Force, led by the late Qasem Soleimani. Other components include Sunni tribal militias from areas like Anbar and Salah ad-Din, as well as smaller units representing Yazidi, Christian, and Shabak communities.

Role in the fight against ISIS

It became a critical ground force in the war against ISIS, participating in nearly every major campaign to liberate territory. Its units were instrumental in breaking the Siege of Amirli, recapturing Tikrit during the Second Battle of Tikrit, and securing key areas in the Battle of Ramadi. Perhaps its most significant contribution was during the lengthy and brutal Battle of Mosul, where its forces, particularly the Iran-aligned factions, operated on the western and southern fronts. They also played a pivotal role in clearing operations in Diwaniyah, Jurf al-Nasr, and the Sinjar region, often fighting alongside units of the Iraqi Army, the Counter Terrorism Service, and Kurdish Peshmerga forces, albeit with occasional tensions.

Political influence and controversies

The rise has profoundly altered Iraqi politics, with its associated political wings forming a powerful bloc in the Iraqi parliament. The Fatah Alliance, which represented many of the Iran-aligned factions, performed strongly in the 2018 and 2021 elections. Its activities have been mired in controversy, including widespread allegations of human rights abuses, extrajudicial killings, and sectarian violence against Sunni civilians, particularly during operations in cities like Tikrit and Fallujah. Furthermore, certain factions, especially Kata'ib Hezbollah, have been accused of repeatedly attacking U.S. diplomatic and military facilities in Iraq, such as the Baghdad International Airport and the Green Zone, drawing retaliatory strikes like the 2020 Baghdad International Airport airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

Legal status and integration

Its legal standing was formalized by the Iraqi parliament in November 2016 under Law No. 40, which placed it under the command of the Prime Minister and granted its members salaries and pensions equivalent to other Iraqi Armed Forces. This process of integration, however, has been incomplete and contentious. Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi issued orders demanding all factions sever ties with political parties and fully integrate into state security institutions, a move met with resistance. The United States designates several of its constituent groups, such as Kata'ib Hezbollah, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, complicating bilateral relations. Its future remains a central issue in Iraqi sovereignty debates, balancing between its role as a national institution and the independent power of its most influential, Iran-backed factions.

Category:Militias in Iraq Category:Shia Islam in Iraq Category:2014 establishments in Iraq