Shia parties have strongly objected to the proposal, which would allow Iraq to assert control over the PMF [Getty]
The Iraqi government has withdrawn a draft law regulating the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) from Parliament this week, amid intense US opposition and a growing internal political crisis.
Parliamentarians and officials told The New Arab’s sister site, Al‑Araby Al‑Jadeed, that the decision reflects not only external pressure from Washington, but also deep internal disagreements that have rendered the bill politically unviable in its current form.
The draft law aimed to formally integrate the PMF into Iraq’s armed forces under a unified military hierarchy.
It would standardise salaries, pensions, and ranks, and retire aging or controversial commanders, including long-time PMF chairman Faleh al-Fayyad. However, influential factions within the PMF strongly opposed this model.
The PMF – known in Arabic as al-Hashd al-Shaabi – was created by government decree in 2014 following a fatwa by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani urging volunteers to defend Iraq during the rise of the Islamic State group.
Thousands of fighters from pre-existing Shia armed groups joined under the PMF umbrella. In 2016, the force was officially integrated into the country’s security forces. It includes several Shia militias close to Iran.
Political sources say the United States is also applying diplomatic pressure to block the legislation, fearing it would solidify the PMF’s autonomy from the Iraqi army and confer legal legitimacy on factions the US designates as terrorist groups.
The current debate over the amendments comes as the Iraqi parliament struggles to maintain quorum, with a significant number of lawmakers skipping recent sessions to prevent the bill’s advancement.
“The government suddenly withdrew the Popular Mobilisation Forces Law a few days ago, despite it having been read twice in Parliament and ready to be voted on,” MP Hadi Al‑Salami told Al‑Araby Al‑Jadeed.
He questioned whether its withdrawal was in compliance with US demands or a response to other factors, noting that the Iraqi legislator had submitted formal questions to the government but received no clear answers.
Hussein al-Maliki, a member of the State of Law coalition led by Nouri al-Maliki, downplayed Western pressure.
Instead, he pointed to internal resistance, especially around clauses that would force out senior PMF leaders, including Fayyad. He called for a revised draft based on broader consensus.
There are concerns that passing the law without political agreement could lead to armed backlash in a country that has reeled under decades of conflict and instability.
Political and strategic affairs researcher Ali Nasser told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the PMF law would likely be postponed until the next parliamentary session.
“The United States controls Iraq’s rentier, oil-based economy, and is considered the sole guarantor of preventing Israeli strikes and planes in Iraqi airspace,” he said.
He considered that the main reason for withdrawing the bill was to avoid a direct confrontation with Washington, whose strong opposition of the bill was clear.
“Therefore, the law will not see the light of day.
“Even in the new Iraqi parliament, it will be difficult to pass it in light of the external and internal rejection as well,” he says.
Iran and its regional network of allies and proxies have suffered significant setbacks over the past two years in their confrontation with Israel. Iraq has managed to avoid Israeli attacks, as Baghdad continues to walk a tightrope between the US and Iran.
