Media Monitor

Qais Al-Khazali denies Iran approved plans to disband PMF, rejects Sulaymaniyah injury Claims

BAGHDAD — Qais Al-Khazali, leader of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, has strongly denied allegations that Iran approved efforts to dismantle the Popular Mobilization Forces. He also dismissed claims about being injured in Sulaymaniyah as unfounded.

“All that is said about there being pressures on the Iraqi state regarding the PMF, or that the Prime Minister came with a green light from Iran to dissolve the factions, is not true,” Al-Khazali said in an interview with Al-Ahd TV. “The credibility of this talk is at the same level as the talk about me being targeted and injured in Sulaymaniyah.”

Al-Khazali argued that the current security and political situation in Iraq does not justify discussions about dismantling the PMF, which he described as essential for safeguarding the country. “The situation in Iraq is not integrated enough to raise issues about the existence of resistance weapons and factions,” he said.

The fate of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces has become the center of heated debate following reports that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a surprise visit to Baghdad, urged the Iraqi government to dismantle the PMF and disband armed militia groups operating in the country. Blinken is also said to have called for militia weapons to be transferred to state control and pressed for a reduction of Iran’s influence in Iraq.

The PMF, a coalition of predominantly Shia militias, was formed in 2014 to counter the Islamic State’s advances and was formally integrated into Iraq’s armed forces in 2016. Despite ostensibly being under state authority, the PMF retains much autonomy and influence in Iraq’s political and security landscape.

In response, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani firmly rejected any external demands to disband the PMF, stating, “It is unacceptable to make demands and impose conditions on Iraq, especially when it comes to dismantling the PMF.”

Similarly, Abu Alaa Al-Walaei, leader of the Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada militia, defended the PMF, describing it as a “fundamental pillar of Iraq’s strength and stability.”

On Dec. 23, 2024, Qais Al-Khazali, secretary general of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, made his first public appearance in weeks, visiting the shrines of Imams Hussein and Abbas in Karbala. This appearance followed widespread speculation on social media and in news outlets regarding his well-being, with some rumors claiming he had been injured in an airstrike in Sulaymaniyah.

Excerpts of Al-Khazali’s interview on Al-Ahd:

The situation in Iraq is not integrated enough to raise issues about the existence of resistance weapons and factions [Shia militia groups]. Moreover, the situation in the region does not allow for proposing the dissolution of factions or the Popular Mobilization Forces . Everyone knows what is happening in Syria and what the Zionist entity [Israel] is striving for in dismantling Jordan, let alone Iraq. Is it possible to propose the dissolution of the PMF in these circumstances?

As long as the resistance’s weapons are disciplined internally, it is not reasonable to abandon them in facing Iraqi dangers. But we must know what is meant by disciplining weapons within the framework of the state. Does this mean that weapons are disciplined against Israel? This is not possible and would be an accusation against the Marja’iya [Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Husaini Sistani] because it supported the resistance and blessed the support of Palestine and Lebanon in every possible way.

All that is said about there being pressures on the Iraqi state regarding the PMF, or that the Prime Minister came with a green light from Iran to dissolve the factions, is not true. The credibility of this talk is at the same level as the talk about me being targeted and injured in Sulaymaniyah.

America is more realistic regarding the PMF than the political parties promoting the topic of dissolving the PMF.

We are guided by the words of the Supreme Leader [of Iran], which are legally and morally binding: every resistance [group] must act according to its circumstances in its country. The resistance in Iraq has taken important decisions, including succeeding in the Prime Minister’s efforts for the withdrawal of the international coalition. There is courage and wisdom in making decisions.

I say to those Iraqis relying on Trump, do not rely on him because he is unpredictable. Trump may say that his forces will not withdraw from Syria, and he may also decide to withdraw within two months. His calculations are not only political but also economic.

Iraq is not a priority for Trump. His priorities are China, Ukraine, Europe, the Iranian nuclear file, and Israeli security. Iraq here is just a detail in Trump’s policies, and if he makes a decision regarding Iraq, it will come in light of his priorities in the region and not targeting Iraq itself.