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Iraq: PMF Orders Closure of its Offices in Liberated Cities

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces advance toward Tal Afar, Iraq, on Aug. 22, 2017. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP
Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces advance toward Tal Afar, Iraq, on Aug. 22, 2017. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP
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Iraq: PMF Orders Closure of its Offices in Liberated Cities

Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces advance toward Tal Afar, Iraq, on Aug. 22, 2017. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP
Members of the Popular Mobilization Forces advance toward Tal Afar, Iraq, on Aug. 22, 2017. Ahmad Al-Rubaye/AFP

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) ordered on Monday the withdrawal of its forces from Iraqi cities,mainly areas liberated from ISIS in the provinces of Salahuddin, Anbar and Nineveh.

The Iran-backed PMF also ordered the closure of its offices in cities seized from ISIS.

“PMF headquarters will be moved outside of liberated cities, and all offices under any name linked to the PMF will be closed in the liberated areas,” read an official document issued Monday by the Deputy Commander of the forces, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

He also warned that the brigades who remain loyal and committed to their supporting sides would be dealt with as a rogue force.

Armed groups expert Dr. Hisham al-Hashemi on Monday expressed doubt that the decision to pull out of several Iraqi cities was purely local.

“It is rather linked to separate meetings held between Omani officials and each of US and Iranian officials amid talks on the withdrawal of Iranian forces from Syria and on curbing Iran’s influence in Iraq,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

Politically, analysts said that Kurds and Sunnis have been playing with the nerves of Shiite blocs wishing to form the next government.

A meeting was held Sunday between the two principal Kurdish parties (Kurdistan Democratic Party and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan) and the newly formed Sunni Arab ‘National Axis Alliance’ to discuss the formation of the new cabinet.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to continue collaboration “for active participation in the political process in implementing and taking into consideration the principles that can serve partnership of all the components in the next Iraqi government.”

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France Mediates to Respect Ceasefire Terms in Lebanon

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approach a Lebanese army roadblock near a checkpoint in the village of Burj el-Meluk in Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on January 25, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approach a Lebanese army roadblock near a checkpoint in the village of Burj el-Meluk in Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on January 25, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
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France Mediates to Respect Ceasefire Terms in Lebanon

Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approach a Lebanese army roadblock near a checkpoint in the village of Burj el-Meluk in Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on January 25, 2025. (Photo by AFP)
Armored vehicles of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) approach a Lebanese army roadblock near a checkpoint in the village of Burj el-Meluk in Nabatiyeh in southern Lebanon near the border with Israel on January 25, 2025. (Photo by AFP)

French President Emmanuel Macron has engaged in diplomatic efforts to salvage the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel, which was set to proceed this Sunday following Israel’s announcement of a delayed withdrawal from South Lebanon.

The Lebanese presidency stated that Macron is conducting discussions to uphold the ceasefire and ensure the agreement’s implementation. According to a statement, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has intensified his consultations and efforts to address the escalating situation in the South and counter what were described as dangerous Israeli practices.

Macron contacted Aoun to discuss the developments and efforts to de-escalate tensions, emphasizing the importance of implementing the ceasefire agreement and taking measures to defuse the crisis. Macron affirmed, according to the Lebanese presidency, that he is “making contacts to sustain the ceasefire and complete the agreement’s implementation.”

Aoun, for his part, stressed the necessity of holding Israel accountable for fulfilling the terms of the agreement to maintain stability in the South. He highlighted Israel’s continued violations, including the destruction of villages near the southern border and the leveling of lands, actions that would hinder displaced residents from returning to their homes.

The Israeli military has warned residents of dozens of Lebanese border villages against returning until further notice. On Saturday, the Israeli army issued a map showing areas in the South, marked with dozens of villages, and cautioned residents against entering these areas.

The army’s statement on the X platform read: “Anyone moving south of this line is putting themselves in danger.” The designated area spans from Shebaa, about two kilometers east of the border, to the village of Mansouri, roughly 10 kilometers west of the border.

In contrast, the Lebanese army accused Israel of stalling its withdrawal from southern Lebanon, complicating the deployment of Lebanese forces in the area. A Saturday statement by the Lebanese army said: “Several stages have been delayed due to Israel’s stalling in its withdrawal, complicating the army’s deployment efforts. However, the army remains ready to complete its deployment as soon as the Israeli forces withdraw.”

The Lebanese army also urged residents to delay their return to the border region due to the presence of Israeli-laid landmines and unexploded ordnance. It called on citizens to act responsibly and adhere to the military’s instructions to ensure their safety.

“Military units are continuously conducting engineering surveys, clearing roads, and addressing unexploded ordnance. They are closely monitoring the operational situation, including violations of the agreement, attacks on Lebanese sovereignty, and the destruction of infrastructure, including demolitions and fires in border villages caused by Israeli forces,” the statement added.

The Lebanese army also noted that it is implementing a plan to enhance its deployment in the region south of the Litani River under a mandate from the Cabinet. This effort began as soon as the ceasefire agreement came into effect, following a phased and coordinated approach in collaboration with the five-member committee overseeing the agreement’s implementation and UNIFIL forces.