Iraq PMF law risks entrenching Iran-backed militias as parallel force

A proposed Iraqi law would seemingly solidify the status of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) as a permanent security force, sparking worries about Iraq's democratic trajectory and national autonomy, according to experts and officials. The PMF, an assembly of predominantly Shiite paramilitary groups linked to state security, includes factions with ties to Iran.

During Iraq's campaign against ISIS, these groups were established. Modifications to the PMF legislation would essentially formalise a parallel military entity with a multi-billion-dollar annual budget, while leaving its leadership largely untouched, stated Michael Knights, a senior researcher at Horizon Engage, a New York-based strategic consulting firm.

"This could pose significant risks, particularly given that certain PMF factions are led by individuals labelled as terrorists by the United States," Mr Knights told The National. The law, which was approved by the government of former Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al Sudani in February 2025, is currently in the parliamentary process, although it has been delayed due to disagreements over retirement provisions and Washington's disapproval, according to an Iraqi official.

The law's passage has been urged by the United States, which has been urging Iraq to disarm the PMF by September 30, the same deadline given to US troops for their withdrawal from Iraq under a 2024 agreement. Tensions between the Iraqi government and Iran-backed militias have been on the rise over disarmament, with the militias - financially and militarily supported by Iran - posing a significant threat to the national army and being deeply entrenched in Iraq's political, economic, and social spheres.