Iraqi militia leader rejects notion of disbanding Popular Mobilization Forces

BAGHDAD — Abu Alaa Al-Walaei, leader of the Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada militia, one of Iraq’s most prominent militia groups, has rejected any calls for the dissolution of the Popular Mobilization Forces, describing the group as an essential pillar of Iraq’s strength and stability.

In a statement posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Al-Walaei says, “the PMF is the solution to every problem that has no solution, and it itself cannot be dissolved or disbanded.”

The remarks come amid growing domestic and international discussions about the future of the PMF, an influential paramilitary organization officially integrated into Iraq’s security apparatus. The Axis of Resistance—a coalition led by Iran and including groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza, and the Syrian government—has faced significant setbacks recently.

Last week, an internal controversy erupted in Iraq following reports that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a surprise visit to Baghdad, urged the Iraqi government to dissolve the PMF and disband armed factions operating in the country. According to these reports, Blinken allegedly demanded the handover of faction weapons to the state and a reduction in Iran’s influence in Iraq.

However, official statements from the U.S. Department of State framed Blinken’s visit as focused on regional security and political transition efforts in neighboring Syria, following the collapse of Bashar Al-Assad’s government.

After the visit, Ibrahim Al-Sumaydi, an advisor to Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, revealed in an interview with Iraq’s Alsumaria TV that the government had received clear requests from international and regional parties to dismantle the weapons of armed factions. Al-Sumaydi noted mounting international pressure on Baghdad to address unauthorized weapons operating outside state authority. He stated, “We were explicitly asked to dismantle the weapons of armed factions as part of efforts to restore stability in Iraq and ensure national sovereignty.”

In response, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani firmly rejected these external pressures, particularly regarding the dissolution of the PMF. In an interview with state television, Al-Sudani emphasized that the PMF is an official institution established by a 2014 law ratified by parliament. He asserted, “It is unacceptable for conditions or dictates to be imposed on Iraq, and there are no terms or conditions for dissolving the PMF.”

Groups such as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq have claimed responsibility for launching drone and missile attacks against Israel.

Full statement by Al-Walaei on X:

In celebration of the birth of Lady Fatimah Al-Zahra (peace be upon her), the heart of prophethood and the pulse of imamate, it is important to emphasize the following:

1. The Popular Mobilization Forces are the solution to every problem that has no solution, and cannot be dissolved or disbanded

2. In the past two decades, Iraq has never been as strong as it is today.

3. Sending reassuring messages to the enemy, whether through statements or actions, is religiously forbidden and leads only from dignity to regret.