Peregraf — Iraqi Prime Minister and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani visited the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Commission on Thursday, reaffirming the government's commitment to protecting Iraq's security forces amid intensifying regional tensions.
Al-Sudani was received by senior PMF leadership, including the commission's chairman, chief of staff, and unit commanders, during a visit that comes as the country faces growing security and political pressure linked to the ongoing war on Iran.
The prime minister stated that the government "will not tolerate any targeting" of PMF personnel or other members of Iraq's armed forces, signaling a firm stance following a wave of strikes that have hit PMF positions across multiple provinces in recent weeks.
He emphasized that the PMF has demonstrated discipline and loyalty to the Iraqi state and political system, describing it as an "integral part" of the country's security apparatus in confronting ongoing threats, and reaffirmed that the force operates within the framework of the constitution and under official state command.
"Accusations that the Popular Mobilization Forces act outside the law either reflect ignorance or deliberate misinformation," al-Sudani said, pushing back against criticism of the force.
Al-Sudani also highlighted government directives to support families of fallen and wounded PMF members, including the allocation of serviced residential land plots, calling it "the least of their rights upon the state."
At the same time, he underscored the need to prevent Iraq from being drawn deeper into the broader regional war, instructing security forces to maintain stability and safeguard vital infrastructure and diplomatic missions.
The visit comes against the backdrop of escalating military activity linked to the US-Israeli war on Iran, with Iraq increasingly caught in the crossfire. US and Israeli strikes have repeatedly targeted PMF sites in recent weeks — now on the 20th day of the war — contributing to mounting casualties and raising concerns over Iraqi sovereignty and stability.
At the end of his remarks, al-Sudani reiterated that preserving and supporting the PMF is a shared national responsibility, given what the force represents in terms of sacrifice and loyalty.
Meanwhile, Badr Organization Secretary-General Hadi al-Amiri urged urgent action as US-Israeli strikes on PMF positions killed over 60 people and wounded more than 100. Al-Amiri called the attacks a "dangerous escalation" and demanded a swift government and parliamentary response.