Abadi reverses PMF withdrawal, says decision can only come from Commander-in-Chief

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Baghdad has reversed the decision to withdraw a number of Hashd al-Shaabi forces from Muslim Sunni populated areas.

The order to stay the militia forces was issued by the office of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, also Commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, according to a document signed on Tuesday.

The move comes as the al-Fatih Coalition—the main components of which are factions within the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)—are attempting to give concessions to Sunni parties to join their efforts in creating the largest bloc and leading the next government.

Reportedly, the Hadi al-Amiri-led al-Fatih Coalition is in the works with Vice-President Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law Coalition to create a majority government in Baghdad.

The original order to withdraw the Iranian-backed Shia militia forces from disputed Sunni areas came from Abu Madhi Muhandis, an influential militia commander. The decision may be seen as a move undermining the Prime Minister since Abadi, as Commander-in-Chief of Iraq’s armed forces which include the PMF, was not the one to issue the command.

The PM’s office called for “compliance with the law and instructions that prohibit the politicization of the Hashd al-Shaabi,” according to the document, which Kurdistan 24 received. 

The presence of the Shia militias in Sunni-majority areas was and continues to be a controversial matter in Iraq.

The document also stipulates any reorganization or withdrawal of the PMF must be done “after obtaining the consent of the Commander-in-Chief,” otherwise, “the relevant parties bear legal responsibility.” The document added that “any formation” is allowed to move “only in full coordination with the Joint Operations Command.”

The PMF, dominated by Shia factions with close ties to Iran, have had forces in many Sunni areas since the fall of the Islamic State (IS) last year. Residents in those areas have expressed reservations and discontent toward their presence after reports of widespread abuses of Sunni Iraqis during the liberation of Mosul came to light, causing fears of reprisals among many.

On an Aug. 02 signed document, the PMF leadership had ordered the withdrawal of militias, later claiming it was simply repositioning their forces in the Nineveh province. Another document, dated Aug.18, instructed the relevant forces in “liberated” areas to evacuate and cease establishing new headquarters.

Editing by Nadia Riva