Iraqi prime minister underlines support for popular fighters

Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has underlined Baghdad’s support for the country’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), known as Hashd al-Sha'abi.

Speaking at a conference on Saturday, Abadi warned against any hostile position against the popular forces and noted that the group comprises various Iraqi ethnic groups.

The Hashd al-Sha'abi forces are "defending Iraq’s dignity and unity" and it is "everyone’s duty" to support them, the prime minister said.

Abadi hailed the emerging unity in Iraq as a source of optimism for the nation and noted that Iraqi forces are continuing to fulfill their promise to liberate the country from Daesh Takfiri terrorists.

Read more:

• Iraqi forces make fresh gains in, near Mosul

Hashd al-Sha’abi is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40 groups, which are mainly Shia Muslims. The force reportedly numbers more than 100,000 fighters. Iraqi authorities say there are between 25,000 and 30,000 Sunni tribal fighters within its ranks in addition to Kurdish Izadi and Christian units.

The fighters have played a major role in the liberation of Daesh-held areas to the south, northeast and north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, ever since the terrorists launched an offensive in the country in June 2014.

Iraq has repeatedly condemned allegations of sectarian nature against Hashd al-Sha'abi.

Last December, Baghdad warned Riyadh of the ramifications of meddling in Iraq’s internal affairs, after Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Iraq cannot realize unity with the presence of the Popular Mobilization Units.

Saudi Arabia has repeatedly labeled the PMU, which incorporates volunteer forces from different Iraqi factions and tribes, as a Shia movement and called for the dismantling of the group.

Abadi’s remarks come as, according to a statement by the Iraqi Defense Ministry, 150 Daesh terrorists have been killed during Iraqi forces’ airstrikes west of the city of Tal Afar in Nineveh Province.

The statement also noted that the Iraqi forces continue to advance in the Old City in west Mosul and have attacked several Daesh positions with the support of US-led aircraft.

Iraqi army soldiers and PMU fighters launched their offensive to retake Mosul last October and since then they have made sweeping gains against the Takfiri elements.

Iraqi forces took control of eastern Mosul in January after 100 days of fighting, and launched the battle in the west on February 19.

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