UK Says Iraq No Longer Needs the Popular Mobilization Forces
Britain supports Washington's opposition to Iraq's PMF bill, arguing the force's anti-ISIS mandate has expired. The UK envoy warned the law could empower Iran-backed factions, threatening Iraqi sovereignty.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The United Kingdom has officially voiced its support for the United States’ position opposing the newly proposed legislation concerning Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi. Britain’s ambassador to Iraq stated that with the defeat of ISIS, the PMF’s mission has come to an end and Iraq no longer requires its role.
In a televised interview, UK Ambassador to Iraq Irfan Siddiq reiterated his country’s stance against the PMF legislation, affirming, “We support the United States’ position on this matter.”
Siddiq acknowledged that the PMF was originally formed as a bulwark against ISIS threats. However, with the militant group’s territorial defeat, the ambassador stressed that the PMF’s duties should also conclude, noting that Iraq now sees no necessity for its continued existence.
He further pointed out that the Iraqi government itself has called for the conclusion of the mission of the International Coalition, in recognition that the threat of terrorism and ISIS has largely dissipated from the country. “This clearly shows that the PMF’s role, in this context, has also ended,” Siddiq asserted.
The UK’s position comes after the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, on Aug. 3, issued a statement regarding the PMF bill. According to the embassy, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Steven Fagin met with Iraq’s First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mohsen al-Mandalawi, to express Washington’s concerns over the legislation.
The embassy warned that the approval of this bill could expand Iran’s influence in Iraq, further strengthen hardline armed factions, and pose a significant threat to the country’s sovereignty.
The U.S. Department of State voiced strong opposition on Aug. 5, to the draft law, warning that it would formalize and institutionalize armed factions—many aligned with Iran and linked to attacks on American interests.
Speaking to Kurdistan24 during a press briefing on Tuesday, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce cautioned that the bill would jeopardize Iraq’s legal and institutional framework. Her remarks came in response to a question from Kurdistan24’s Washington correspondent Rahim Rashidi about the implications of the proposed “militia bill” and its potential impact on U.S.–Iraq relations.
“We strongly oppose it,” Bruce said, explaining that the bill seeks to institutionalize armed groups associated with terrorist organizations and Iran-backed militias, some of which have targeted U.S. forces and killed American personnel.
She stressed, “We strongly oppose any legislation that is inconsistent with the goals of our bilateral security assistance and partnership,” adding that such measures undermine Iraq’s existing security institutions.
Bruce concluded, “We support genuine Iraqi sovereignty, not legislation that turns Iraq into an Iranian satellite state.”
