The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) have recently been in the news due to a series of significant events in the region. These include a reported explosion at a PMF military base in Babylon, south of Baghdad, as well as a US drone strike that targeted and killed a senior commander of the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia, an Iranian-backed group within the PMF. Subsequently, the US launched retaliatory strikes on Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Syria, further escalating tensions in the region.
The Popular Mobilization Forces, also known as the People's Mobilization Committee and the Popular Mobilization Units, is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization comprising various militias and paramilitary groups. Established in 2014 to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the PMF played a crucial role in the defeat of the terrorist group in Iraq. However, the PMF is a controversial entity due to its close ties to Iran and allegations of human rights abuses. The organization's involvement in regional conflicts and its connections to Iran have contributed to ongoing tensions in the Middle East.