Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF)

The Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) are an Iraqi paramilitary organization, initially formed to combat ISIL and later integrated into the Iraqi armed forces. They are primarily composed of Shia groups and have close ties to Iran. The PMF is currently newsworthy due to escalating tensions between the US and Iran, which are playing out within Iraq. Recent events include a series of air strikes targeting PMF positions across Iraq, attributed to the US and Israel, resulting in casualties among PMF fighters and Iraqi police. These attacks have prompted the Iraqi government to summon both US and Iranian envoys to protest the violation of Iraqi sovereignty. The PMF's presence and activities are significant because they highlight Iraq's precarious position as a battleground in the wider US-Iran conflict, threatening to destabilize the country and deepen its economic woes. Attacks on US facilities in Iraq are also attributed to Iran-aligned groups, further escalating the situation.