Info:
Controlled, sponsored by the Iran Regime, Terrorist Organizations IRGC, Hezbollah and IRGC-Qods Force Commander Qassem Soleimani;
The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40 militias that are mostly Shia Muslim groups, but also including Sunni Muslim, Christian, and Yazidi individuals as well;
The Popular Mobilization Forces consist of both new volunteers and pre-existing militias, which have been grouped within the umbrella organization formally under the control of the Ministry of Interior Popular Mobilization Units directorate. Among these militias there are the Peace Companies (formerly known as the Mahdi Army), Kata’ib Hezbollah, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Kata’ib al-Imam Ali, Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and the Badr Organization;
The militias are trained and supported by military advisers from Turkey (for Sunni and Turkmeni troops), Iran and Hezbollah, including prominent Quds Force figures such as Qasem Soleimani. The PMF also appeared to have deployed at least a regiment under the command of Colonel Jumaa al-Jumaily in Al Anbar Governorate. They are also said to have their own military intelligence, administrative systems, a sort of “media war team” that provides morale boosting, battlefield updates and propaganda videos, and a court of law;
According to Faleh A. Jabar and Renad Mansour for The Carnegie Foundation, the Popular Mobilization Forces are factionally divided into three Shiite components: a component pledging allegiance to Supreme Leader of Iran Ali Khamenei; a faction pledging allegiance to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani; and the faction headed by Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr;
The main Shiite faction in the Popular Mobilization Forces is the group which maintains strong ties with Iran and pledge spiritual allegiance to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The pro-Khamanei faction would consist of already established parties and of relatively small paramilitaries: Saraya Khurasani, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Kata’ib Abu Fadhl al-Abbas, the Badr Organization and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq. These groups serve as a kind of border guard—a sort of Iranian insurance policy against threats on its immediate border. Their leaders publicly take pride in such affiliations, professing religious allegiance to Khamenei and his notion of Vilayat al-Faqih;
Iran is a major supplier of weapons. According to some sources in 2014 Tehran sold Baghdad nearly $10 billion worth of weapons and hardware. Furthermore, there is a daily supply of Iranian weapons including Iranian-made 106 mm anti-tank guns as well as 120 mm, 82 mm and 60 mm mortars;
Some of the militias constituting the Popular Mobilization Forces have been accused of war crimes motivated by sectarian revenge: according to Amnesty International, Shiite militias have abducted, tortured and killed numerous Sunni civilians and, according to Western sources, in Tikrit militants have committed some violences, while being publicily praised;
The Popular Mobilization Forces are accused of accruing a power base in Iraq and of being Iran’s instrument to dominate Iraq. The main fears are that the permanent militia would turn themselves into enforcers of Shiite domination;
Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said that the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Iraqi Shiite militia, is the “religious organization,” carrying out mass killings in the country with support of Iranian generals;
Also Known As:
PMF
People’s Mobilization Committee (PMC)
Popular Mobilization Units (PMU)
Established:
2014
Country:
Iraq
Size:
150,000
Website:
www.al-hashed.net
Person of Interests:
Abu Fadak
Adil Abdul-Mahdi – (Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces)
Falih Alfayyadh – (Chairman of Popular Mobilization Committee)
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis – (Deputy Chairman of Popular Mobilization Committee)
Reason for the color:
» Iran regime behind formation of Iraqi PMF;
» PMF in Iraq will remain under Iranian control;