Ansar Allah Al-Awfiya: ‘Resistance factions are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces’

BAGHDAD — Taher Al-Abbadi, deputy secretary general of Ansar Allah Al-Awfiya militia group, stated in an interview with Al-Rasheed TV, aired on Tuesday, that “resistance factions”, many of which were established before 2003, played a foundational role in forming the Popular Mobilization Forces. He also ruled out the dissolution of the Popular Mobilization Forces or the disarmament of its factions, claiming that these factions operate under the authority of Iraq’s commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Recent calls to dissolve Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces have sparked renewed debate domestically and internationally.

Excerpts from Taher Al-Abbadi’s interview with Al-Rasheed TV:

Many of the resistance factions currently in existence were established before the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime, such as Badr and others. These factions played their role in confronting all the attacks Iraq faced after the fall of the regime and were the first to respond to the religious authority’s call for sufficient jihad in 2014 [against Islamic State militants].

Without the presence of the resistance factions, the Popular Mobilization Forces would not have existed, as these factions were the primary force securing the surroundings of Baghdad before the fall of Mosul. After the fatwa was issued, an unexpected surge of volunteers emerged, which was absorbed through the offices of the resistance factions.

As resistance factions, we are part of the Popular Mobilization Forces. We follow the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces and fulfill our duty toward our homeland, sanctities, and people. We stand united with all Iraqi components to confront anyone who seeks harm against Iraq.

The PMF will remain and cannot be removed. Our weapons are present, and no one will be able to approach Iraq. At the same time, we respect and maintain brotherly relations with all our Arab neighbors, and we cannot forget the generosity of the Islamic Republic [of Iran], which sacrificed blood and provided weapons alongside us during the battles against ISIS.