PMF spokesperson demands US apologize, denies Iranian militias' presence in Iraq

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan 24) – A Hashd al-Shaabi spokesperson on Monday called on the United States to apologize for comments made by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson regarding the presence of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.

Ahmad al-Asadi, the spokesperson for Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), accused Tillerson’s remarks of being “false and baseless.”

“The statements made by the US Secretary of State on the presence of Iranian militias is unacceptable, and the accusation is false and baseless,” Asadi said during a press conference held in the Iraqi Parliament’s House of Representatives.

“All fighters on the ground are Iraqis,” the spokesperson continued, adding that “these statements reflect lack of experience or knowledge or disregard for blood.”

Following a joint meeting with Iraqi and Saudi leaders on Sunday, Tillerson said it was time for the PMF and their Iranian advisers who assisted the Iraqi army in the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) to “go home.”

“Iranian militias that are in Iraq, now that the fight against [IS] is coming to a close, those militias need to go home,” the Secretary of State said. “The foreign fighters in Iraq need to go home and allow the Iraqi people to regain control.”

Washington is concerned Iran’s presence in Iraq will help expand Tehran’s influence in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi on Monday denied Tillerson’s request and replied that “no party has the right to interfere in Iraqi matters,” according to a statement from his office.

The PMF are trained and armed by Iran and often backed Iraqi forces in the battle against IS. They are paid by the Iraqi government and officially report to Abadi.

In the Iraqi Prime Minister’s statement, he referred to the PMF as “Iraqi patriots,” despite concerns from the US, as well as claims by Kurdish officials that the militias are a branch of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps—a group Washington recently labeled as terrorists.

After an attack on Peshmerga forces in Kirkuk and other disputed areas by the PMF and Iraqi forces last week, Kurdish officials accused the Shia militias of using American-supplied weapons.

Washington has since been under pressure to break its silence and defend the Kurds from further assaults.

Editing by G.H. Renaud