Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces Respond to Saudi Foreign Minister’s Remarks
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) issued a statement in response to recent comments made by the Saudi Foreign Minister, rejecting allegations that they have harmed Iraq. This response came after the Saudi minister referred to the PMF as a militia group and claimed that the organization has caused damage to Iraq.
The PMF statement noted that the force was formed during a period when Iraq faced serious security threats. According to the organization, at that time, some Arab capitals merely issued statements expressing concern. The statement emphasized that its forces originate from an “authentic Iraqi position” and that many civilian casualties occurred during the battles.
Furthermore, the PMF added that those who currently take a stance against the organization, in their view, have no history of practical support for Iraq’s stability and have mostly limited themselves to political statements. The statement described the Saudi Foreign Minister’s remarks about the PMF’s negative role as “claims within the realm of political imagination.”
The organization also stressed that the Iraqi people, based on past experiences, clearly distinguish between those who stood by them and those who only made statements. The statement concluded by urging the Saudi Foreign Minister to acquire more accurate information before commenting on the realities of Iraq, emphasizing that neither Iraq nor the PMF are “transient ideas.”
The PMF, which has operated within Iraq’s security structures in recent years, is considered a significant actor in the country’s security dynamics and has continually been a subject of debate and disagreement at the regional level.
