Faleh Al-Fayyadh, head of the Popular Mobilization Forces.
Media Monitor
Faleh Al-Fayyadh: ‘The PMF is a military force with political and ideological dimensions’
BAGHDAD — Faleh Al-Fayyadh, head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, claims the mobilization of Iraqi forces near the Syrian border does not signal ill intent. “We do not describe Syria’s current situation as terrorism like in 2011, but we remain apprehensive,” he told Dijlah TV, adding that he hopes the Syrian government distances itself from “terrorist groups.”
Al-Fayyadh also dismissed claims of “ghost employees” in the PMF, calling statements on the issue “incorrect” and saying they reveal “hidden intentions” against the force. He claimed that the PMF is “a military force with political and ideological dimensions”, emphasizing its role in “defending” Iraq’s “political system.”
Excerpts from Faleh Al-Fayyadh’s interview with Dijlah TV:
The emergence of terrorists after the Syrian revolution shaped Iraq’s stance toward the Assad regime. We do not describe Syria’s current situation as terrorism like in 2011, but we remain apprehensive. We hope the Syrian government distances itself from terrorist groups and fights them in the future.
Iraq is engaging with the new Syrian side both politically and in terms of security. There are no ill intentions toward Syria behind the mobilization of Iraqi forces on the border. The agreement between Sharaa and the Syrian Democratic Forces guarantees its presence and does not threaten ISIS prisons or Al-Hol camp.
The scenarios of Gaza’s displacement are not serious and are merely a maneuver. The resistance in Lebanon and Gaza has changed global sentiment and imposed itself on Arab states.
Iraq has not received any official communication from the U.S. regarding the Popular Mobilization Forces.
If we ask a patriotic citizen about the defenders of the system, they will place the Popular Mobilization Forces first. The PMF’s primary goal is to defend the political system because it was established under its umbrella.
I do not want to assume ill intent or the possibility of secret communication regarding those speaking on behalf of American threats.
Al-Maliki’s statement about ghost employees in the PMF is incorrect, and we have a shift system. Talk of ghost employees is also raised regarding the army and police, but focusing on the PMF reveals hidden intentions. Those who speak about the PMF and ghost employees are not familiar with its structure and composition.
I receive messages from all regional countries describing the PMF as a source of reassurance. The PMF has no operations outside Iraq, and we are not responsible for the armed factions.
The factions existed before the PMF, which was formed from them and other volunteers. The overlap between the factions and the PMF cannot be ended by an immediate decision, but it will be resolved over time.
The PMF is not a political entity but a military force with political and ideological dimensions. Volunteering in official security forces is for a salary, but many PMF members were martyred at the beginning for their beliefs. We are working to preserve the PMF’s political and ideological dimensions.
The PMF has legitimacy, but there are discussions about the factions, and some reject them. Everyone must be subject to state authority, but it is not our role to fight the factions or work to eliminate them.
