Analysis: Who Are Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces, What Is Their Aim?
July 11, 2016 – 2:07 PM- News Code : 765261
- Source : Websites
AhlulBayt News Agency
– The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Hashid Shaabi in Arabic, are
currently one of the most significant Iraqi forces fighting the ISIS
terror group in the country. The structure and organization of the PMF
has been one of the issues calling attention of the political
researchers during the past two years.
State-sponsored umbrella organization of PMF is composed of
some 40 groups, which are mainly Shiite Muslim groups, but there are
Sunni Muslim, Christian, and Yazidi groups as well.
The Major units forming the PMF are Saraya al-Salam,
Military wing of Badr Organization, Kata’ib Hezbollah, Asa’ib Ahl
al-Haq, Hezbollah Movement of Iraq, Kata’ib Jenah Resali, Saraya
al-Khorasani, and Saraya Ashura.
On June 13, 2014,
Iraq’s grand Shiite cleric Ayatollah Sayyed Ali al-Sistani issued a
jihad fatwa, calling the Shiite Muslims of Iraq to mobilize to fight
against the ISIS terror group. Immediately after the call, the
Shiites of the country staged massive recruiting arrangements, and
became united under the Popular Mobilization Forces organization.
This union paved the way for the PMF to become a link between different political and ideological movements in Iraq.
Key forces and movements present within the PMF are:
Saraya al-Salam
Saraya al-Salam
forces are in fact the units of Mahdi Army, belonging to the top Shiite
leader Ayatollah Muqtada al-Sadr, which in August 2007 officially halted
military activities due to a decree by its leadership for disbandment. The
forces of Mahdi Army were reorganized under the new name of Saraya
al-Salam only two days after Ayatollah Sistani’s jihad fatwa. They are
fully armed units, with tens of thousands of fighters. They could be
called as the military arm of al-Sadr in Iraq. The Saraya al-Salam have
declared their major aim to be protection of the sacred places in both
Najaf and Karbala cities, as well as fighting the foreign forces in the
country. The pro-Sadr force showed
highly efficient military capabilities between 2003 and 2007, having
major military equipments at their disposal.
Military wing of Badr Organization
The Badr Organization was founded in mid-2012 under
leadership of Hadi al-Amiri, the current chief of PMF. The organization
now stands as the key force among other forces forming the PMF. The
organization enjoys large credibility among the Shiite Iraqis, and holds
firm bonds with Nouri al-Maliki, the former Prime Minister of Iraq, and
also the army. In the time being, the Badr Organization’s forces make
up the key force in the body of PMF, with about 10,000 fighters.
Kata’ib Hezbollah
Kata’ib Hezbollah or Hezbollah Battalions was formed several months before US invasion of Iraq in 2003.
Initially, its organizational name was Kata’ib Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas,
however, in 2007 it was renamed to Kata’ib Hezbollah of Iraq.
The members of Kata’ib Hezbollah are followers of Imam Khomeini, the
founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also Iraq’s grand Shiite
cleric Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Although it shares
name with the resistant Lebanese group Hezbollah, their organizational
structures are completely distinct and separate, and they only share
similar objectives. One of major goals of this Shiite militant group is
to confront all of the foreign forces next to Iraqi borders. Its first
military operation was in 2003 against the US military convoy in
Baghdad. It is not clear who are the main commanders of the military
organization. Presently, it is one of key forces active beside others in
PMF.
Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq
The force is part of the larger body of Mahdi Army. It declared existence 2007 after an order by Ayatollah Muqtada al-Sadr as a separate force following disbandment of Mahdi Army.
Qais al-Khazali and Sheikh Akram al-Kaabi are leaders of this Shiite
militia group. This force could be seen as the strictest and toughest
group among the other forces of the PMF. During US and UK invasion of
Iraq, it launched assaults against the American forces stationed in
Iraq. The fighters of the force could reach tens of thousands in number.
Hezbollah Movement of Iraq
The group was founded in 2011 under leadership of Hassan
al-Sari, the member of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. The force joined
the PMF after the jihad fatwa of Ayatollah al-Sistani. Their number is
estimated to be about 3,000.
Kata’ib Jenah Resali
The force, like its counterparts, was formed after Jihad
call. Kazem al-Haeri is the leader of the militia group. It has about
2,000 fighters, and showed an efficient presence in anti-ISIS battles.
Saraya al-Khorasani
The group was formed in 2013 as the military wing of Talia
Party. Its chief is Ali al-Yaseri. The group is comprised of 3,000
fighters, and since the beginning of clashes of PMF with ISIS it was
present in the battlefields.
Saraya Ashura
The militia group was also formed immediately after call
for jihad by Ayatollah al-Sistani. The force is majorly recognized as
the military wing of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq. Over 5,000
fighters are estimated to form this group.
The Popular Mobilization Forces was created to confront
foreign interventions or domestic calamities such as the one currently
trapping Iraq in an inextricable network of foreign-backed terrorist
plots.
There is no doubt that Iraq’s national army and security forces play a key role in the battles but
that doesn’t mean that the PMF are just there to warm the bench.
Instead, these groups, according to experts, have made a fundamental
difference on the battlefield. Most notably, PMF fighters possess a
quality that the army does not have and that is the upper-hand in the
guerilla warfare.
What was known as the Second Battle of Tikrit was an
example that shows the strength the PMF has on the ground. The
recapturing of the provincial capital of the Salahuddin province in
April 2015 marked a turning point in the war against ISIS as the popular
mobilization forces, along with security forces, were engaged in the
largest offensive against ISIS since they occupied swathes of territory
in northern Iraq in June 2014, declared the so-called caliphate, and
launched attacks against security forces and innocent civilians alike.
PMF’s Latest show of powers against ISIS was liberation
operation of Fallujah, the terrorist group’s stronghold in mainly Sunni
populated province of al-Anbar.
Fallujah was a name that for at least a decade in Iraq has been synonymous with clashes, violence and terrorism.
The city has been held by the ISIS terrorist group in early
2014. It didn’t take the terrorists much effort to seize control of the
city because part of the Fallujah population were in favor of going
under the rule of militants of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the leader of ISIS,
and so facilitated their entry to the city.
It is notable that several thousand Sunni, Assyrian, and
Yazidi volunteers are fighting ISIS under the flag of PMF. But regional
media, mostly those belonging to Saudi Arabia, underestimate their role
and only magnify the Shiite fighters’ role in PMF all to fan tensions
as crisis is under way in Iraq.
The PMFs military capacities have been invested
constructively in the country. They even have the potential to establish
security and prosperity in a post-war Iraq, if given the chance.
Scenes of jubilation
following many victories that have been broadcast in the aftermath of
fierce clashes showed many fighters from the Popular Mobilization forces
expressing their sense of nationalism in song and dance. Singing
the national anthem or traditional rhythms while waving the Iraqi flag
is how members of the country’s volunteer units like to celebrate their
accomplishments, which they selflessly dedicate to their country.
These images, however, are but a glimpse of what they are
willing to do for the best interests of Iraq. Although tribes, parties,
and organizations in Iraq are highly-regarded they have not interfered
with the loyalty of these people to their country. When in need they
rise above their different allegiances and unite for the sake of Iraq
and the Popular Mobilization Forces is a model of that.
