Jordan protests presence of PMF forces near border with Iraq
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Jordanian government has lodged a formal protest with Iraq regarding the presence of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs – or locally known as Hashd al-Shaabi forces) near the border between the two countries.
In a letter of concern, a Jordanian MP, who requested anonymity, confirmed that "the Jordanian side informed Iraq a few days ago of its concern about the presence of Popular Mobilization Forces with various weapons near the border, and the possibility of exploiting this deployment to carry out military operations against Israel by using Jordanian airspace to bomb some targets, which escalates the situation and makes Amman part of the battlefield."
The parliament member confirmed that Iraq "provided several assurances to the Jordanian side that there is no danger from the deployment of these forces near the border, and that they are official forces linked to the government, and that they are not the only ones holding the border, but there are border guard forces affiliated with the Iraqi Ministry of Interior."
In turn, another official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed to al-Araby al-Jadeed that “Baghdad has confirmed on more than one occasion that the presence of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the desert and open areas aims to prevent ISIS from reorganizing its ranks, and there will be no threat to neighboring countries from Iraq.”
He revealed that “the operations carried out by Iraqi factions against Israeli targets in the occupied Palestinian territories were from within Syria and the current presence of the Popular Mobilization Forces in the city of Ar-Rutbah, which borders Jordan, has nothing to do with any activity outside the borders.”
The Jordanian side, however, has expressed its determination to prevent any violations of its air sovereignty. "Jordan will prevent violations of its airspace if Iraqi factions decide to expand their operations against Israel," the official added.
In this context, Alawi Al-Bandawi, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in the Iraqi parliament, told al-Araby al-Jadeed, “Iraq has sent messages of reassurance to neighboring countries, including Jordan, that it will not accept being a launching pad for harming any of the neighboring countries. There are security measures on the borders, in light of the recent developments in the region, and Iraq is working to distance itself from the circle of conflict in any way.”
Al-Bandawi, a member of the ruling Coordination Framework coalition in Iraq, added that "Jordan has no justification for being concerned about the presence of the Popular Mobilization Forces near the border. These forces are working to secure and control the border, and they cannot do anything outside of official military contexts."
Al-Bandawi stressed that "the Popular Mobilization Forces have had and continue to have a major and important role in controlling and securing the entire Iraqi border from Syria to the west and north, as well as the border with Jordan. They are present according to the orders of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces (Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani), and their objectives are military and they do not have any political or other agenda for this presence."