"The law aims to regulate Iraq's paramilitaries, the so-called Popular Mobilization forces, or PMF. Should it pass, its critics predict dire consequences. It would make "armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty," part of the official Iraqi military, the US State Department has warned. Supporters of the bill have a very different opinion, arguing that it could be a way of assimilating armed groups back into state institutions."
"Some but not all PMF factions operate independently of the state. These tend to pledge loyalty to Iranian religious and military leadership because the neighboring country has provided them with financial, logistical and even spiritual support. They're considered a part of Iran's so-called "Axis of Resistance," which also includes Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza."
A draft amendment seeks to update Law No. 40 (2016) to more clearly define and regulate the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF originated in 2014 when religious leaders mobilized able-bodied men to fight the Islamic State and have since become powerful actors within Iraq. Some PMF factions operate independently and often pledge loyalty to Iranian religious and military leadership, receiving financial, logistical and spiritual support. Critics warn the law could formalize armed groups that undermine Iraqi sovereignty into the official military, while supporters argue assimilation could reintegrate militias and weaken Iranian influence over Iraqi politics.
Read at www.dw.com
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