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State Department urges Iraqi government to rein in Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces
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Summary
The State Department told reporters the Iraqi government must ensure command and control over all security forces, including Iran-aligned units within the Popular Mobilization Forces, and urged Baghdad to hold those groups accountable for unlawful acts.
A reporter asked how the administration assesses the role of Iranian-backed groups in Iraq and whether the U.S. had asked Baghdad to dissolve militia elements of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The State Department spokesperson said the Iraqi government must ensure it has command and control of all security forces and that the PMF should answer to Iraq’s commander in chief rather than to Iran.
The spokesperson said Washington is concerned that Iran-aligned groups within the PMF—including some the United States has designated foreign terrorist organizations—engage in violent and destabilizing activities in Iraq. She said the State Department continues to urge Iraq to rein in these groups and hold them accountable under Iraqi law.
The spokesperson added that the administration makes the protection of U.S. personnel a priority and that the United States will defend its personnel and interests; no new policy or specific requests were announced at the briefing.
