The Strategic Necessity of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF)

The recent expansion of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, as documented by the Washington Institute and other sources, has drawn repeated criticism from some Western circles, often tied to claims of sectarianism, Iranian influence, or threats to state authority. However, such perspectives ignore the PMF’s deep national legitimacy, proven military effectiveness, and unifying role. The PMF was not created to fragment the state—it emerged as a grassroots force to prevent Iraq’s collapse at a time of existential threat.

1⃣ The PMF as a Legitimate National Response to Existential Threats

The PMF was established following the collapse of state security forces after Mosul fell to ISIS in 2014. It arose in response to the fatwa of defensive jihad issued by Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, calling on all Iraqis—regardless of sect or ethnicity—to defend their homeland.

The PMF brought together Shia, Sunni, Christian, Yazidi, and Turkmen fighters under a shared national goal. Far from being a sectarian militia, it played a decisive role in the battles to liberate Diyala, Tikrit, Fallujah, and Mosul, preventing the state from disintegrating.

2⃣ Popular Trust and Institutional Growth: The Meaning Behind the Numbers

The PMF’s growth from 122,000 to over 204,000 personnel reflects strong public trust, especially in areas like Nineveh, Basra, and Babil, where the force is seen as a defender of local communities.

A 2022 survey by the Mustakilla Center for Strategic Studies in Baghdad found that over 61% of Iraqis considered the PMF a legitimate national institution, outperforming several official ministries in public perception.

3⃣ Military Effectiveness: From Guerrilla Defense to Structured Warfare

In light of the institutional decline of the Iraqi army after 2003, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) emerged as a battle-hardened force capable of operating effectively in unconventional environments. This was acknowledged in reports issued by the United Nations. One such report highlighted the PMF’s effectiveness in the 2016 battle to liberate Fallujah, as part of a unified command alongside the army and federal police, which enabled them to encircle ISIS and liberate the city at minimal cost.

4⃣ Budget Expansion and Training: A Step Toward Institutional Integration

Some critics view the increased PMF budget as an unsustainable burden. However, in a region marked by security volatility and regional militarization, Iraq must invest in its most proven defensive force.

The proposed PMF Service and Retirement Law is a positive development that would institutionalize the PMF under state regulation, legal accountability, and long-term oversight.

Western analysts like Renad Mansour (Chatham House) have noted, “The PMF is no longer merely a militia network—it is a parallel institution the state can no longer ignore.”

5⃣ Geopolitical Necessity and Regional Stability

The PMF is essential to Iraq’s ability to withstand external threats. As foreign forces reduce their footprint, the PMF has filled the security vacuum—guarding borders with Syria, resisting Turkish incursions in the north, and countering intelligence operations in the west.

It also enhances Iraq’s independence by reducing reliance on foreign troops. In this light, the PMF is not a parallel state, but a sovereignty enabler.

6⃣ Beyond Combat: Social and Developmental Roles

In regions like Salahuddin and Diyala, PMF-affiliated groups have reopened roads, protected religious pilgrimages, and restored schools. These roles mirror those of liberation movements that evolve into state institutions, like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the IRGC in Iran.

7⃣ Salary Delays: Economic Pressure as a Soft Tool of Dismantling

Recent reports from [Arabi21](https://arabi21.com/story/1691934) and [The New Region](https://thenewregion.com/posts/2591) have highlighted delays in PMF salary payments. While Iraqi officials attribute the issue to “technical problems,” analysts suggest foreign—particularly U.S.—intervention may be behind the disruptions.

This tactic appears aimed at:

• Weakening PMF morale,

• Undermining its legitimacy among the public,

• Pressuring the Iraqi government to disassociate from the force.

Such strategies mirror U.S. soft power tools used against the IRGC in Iran or Hezbollah in Lebanon via financial sanctions and banking restrictions. In this context, salary delays function as a covert form of economic warfare, designed to fragment the PMF without direct confrontation.

These developments underscore the need to protect the PMF’s funding mechanisms from foreign interference and push for legal and budgetary independence within Iraq’s institutional framework.

Conclusion: The PMF as a Strategic Asset, Not a Liability

Iraq’s future depends not on weakening the PMF but on integrating it responsibly into the national structure. Its growth in numbers and budget reflects necessity, not excess. Rather than viewing it as a challenge to sovereignty, both Iraqi leaders and foreign partners should recognize the PMF as a people’s army, born in crisis, legitimized in combat, and moving toward institutional maturity.