Tag Archives | Popular Mobilization Units

Will US keep Military Bases in Iraq after IS?

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any views expressed here are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  The subject of whether US troops should remain in Iraq once the Islamic State (IS) is defeated in Mosul is raising questions and fueling controversy among Iraqis. On March […]

What role will Iran-linked militias play once IS leaves Iraq?

By Hamdi Malik for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said recently that any group taking up arms in Iraq outside the state's official framework will be considered outlaws. However, it seems at least […]

Shiite Trio Competes for Power in Iraq

By Ammar Alsawad for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  On Feb. 28, hundreds of pro-Sadrist university students in Kut attacked Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's procession with stones and water bottles. Abadi's security forces fired tear gas and live […]

PMUs Threaten to Target Americans in Response to Travel Ban

By Hassan al-Shanoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Armed Iraqi factions threaten to target Americans in response to travel ban US President Donald Trump's Jan. 27 executive order to ban nationals of Iraq and six other Muslim-majority countries […]

Iraq Considers Retaliatory Ban on US Visitors

By John Lee. According to various media reports, Iraqi lawmakers have said that they might ban US nationals from entering the country in retaliation against Donald Trump's executive order to deny Iraqis entry to the United States. The parliament’s foreign affairs committee called on the government to act after Trump controversially ordered that citizens from […]

Iran, Turkey fight over Tal Afar

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  “Tal Afar will be the cemetery of Turkish soldiers should Turkey attempt to take part in the battle,” Hadi al-Amiri, the head of the Badr Organization and a leader in […]

What Next for Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units?

By Adnan Abu Zeed for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  On July 26, the Iraqi government announced that the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) will be converted into “an independent military formation affiliated with the armed forces’ commander-in-chief.” The Shiite force […]

Hashd al Shaabi Heads Meet Western Delegation

By Jean Aziz for Al Monitor. Any opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News.  A hotel in Beirut was the scene of a series of secret meetings Aug. 8-11 between a diplomatic delegation that included representatives from Western countries and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and a delegation […]

Will PMUs participate in Battle for Mosul?

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Will Popular Mobilization Units participate in Battle for Mosul? Ever since Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) was founded three days after the Islamic State (IS) took control of Mosul on June 10, 2014, the PMU […]

Bloody Power Struggles continue in Disputed Territories

By Shelly Kittleson for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Bloody power struggles continue in Iraq’s disputed territories The security situation in Tuz Khormato continues to deteriorate. On June 18, a car bomb exploded just outside the local headquarters of the largest […]

PM Abadi: Final Fallujah Operation Underway

By Simon Kent. Iraq's PM Haider al Abadi has announced that a major battle to retake Fallujah from ISIS has begun. The town fell under the control of the terrorists in January 2014, after security deteriorated following months of Sunni protests against the government of Nouri al Maliki. Protesters accused Maliki of rounding up hundreds […]

Why Iraqi-Saudi ties are Backsliding yet Again

By Mustafa Saadoun for Al-Monitor. Any opinions expressed are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Iraq Business News. Iraq is facing a new crisis with Saudi Arabia as a result of their differing points of view regarding regional issues, most notably those related to Lebanon-based Hezbollah, which was recently classified […]