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Iraqi Leaders Applaud PM’s Order to Integrate PMF into Military

Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on June 23, 2018. (AFP)
Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on June 23, 2018. (AFP)
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Iraqi Leaders Applaud PM’s Order to Integrate PMF into Military

Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on June 23, 2018. (AFP)
Sadrist movement leader Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf on June 23, 2018. (AFP)

Iraqi political leaders welcomed on Tuesday an order by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to integrate the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) into the military.

The first positive reaction came from leader of the Sadrist movement, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who thanked the Abdul Mahdi for this initiative and hoped he keeps working for Iraq's unity and the unity of its police and armed forces.

He also announced that he was cutting ties with the Saraya al-Salam brigade in compliance with the PM’s order.

Sadr, therefore, ordered the closure of the Saraya headquarters and the merger of its fighters with the official security forces.

"I would like to announce that the Saraya al-Salam fighters are under the command of Adel Abdul Mahdi from now on,” he tweeted on Tuesday.

The group said that it will follow Sadr’s order.

A day earlier, Abdul Mahdi issued a decree stipulating that all Popular Mobilization Forces are to operate as an indivisible part of the armed forces and be subject to the same regulations.

He also ordered that groups that are not affiliated with the PMF to choose between joining political work or face prosecution.

Groups have until July 31 to abide by the new regulations. Those that do not will be considered outlaws.

Also, the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais al-Khazali, welcomed the initiative, saying it was a “step in the right direction” that would pave the way for the PMF to become a professional entity and a firm component of the armed forces.

The order has ended attempts to dissolve the PMF, he tweeted, while calling for keeping the PMF away from political tensions.

Head of the Badr parliamentary bloc, Hassan al-Kaabi welcomed Abdul Mahdi’s decree, saying: “All PMF factions are already under the supervision of the commander in chief of the armed forces,” meaning the PM.

Leader of al-Qarar political movement Osama al-Nujaifi said a decision to limit the possession of weapons to the armed forces is a step towards strengthening Iraqi sovereignty.

Al-Mihwar al-Watani Alliance, which includes Sunni forces, said the PM decision is the “tangible outcome of our partnership with the al-Bina alliance.”

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Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
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Hamas Comes Under Pressure in Lebanon

The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)
The Supreme Defense Council, chaired by President Joseph Aoun, issued a recommendation to the government to warn Hamas against using Lebanese territory for any actions that undermine national security (Lebanese Presidency)

Relations between Hamas and the Lebanese state have entered a critical phase not seen since the country’s civil war era. In a rare and direct move, Lebanon’s Supreme Defense Council on Friday named Hamas in an official warning, cautioning the group against using Lebanese territories to conduct activities that threaten national security.

The warning follows rocket attacks in March, allegedly launched by Hamas operatives toward Israel from southern Lebanon, and signals a turning point in Beirut’s handling of the longstanding issue of Palestinian arms.

The issue is expected to dominate discussions during the upcoming visit of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Beirut on May 21. Lebanese authorities are reportedly preparing to demand that Hamas hand over individuals implicated in the rocket attacks.

Hamas officials in Lebanon declined to comment immediately, but sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that an official statement from the group is forthcoming.

Last month, the Lebanese army said it had identified those responsible for the March 22 and 28 rocket launches, revealing a cell composed of Lebanese and Palestinian nationals. Subsequent raids led to several arrests and the seizure of equipment used in the attacks. Security sources later confirmed the detention of three Hamas members - two Palestinians and one Lebanese.

Analysts and insiders believe Hamas now finds itself increasingly isolated in Lebanon. According to Palestinian political analyst Hisham Debassy, the group has little choice but to comply with Lebanese demands, including potentially disarming.

“The Defense Council’s position marks a serious and strategic shift,” said Debassy. “It sends a strong political message not just to Hamas but to any non-state actor operating militarily on Lebanese soil.”

Debassy described Hamas as being at a crossroads. “Either it cooperates with Lebanese authorities by handing over wanted individuals and signaling respect for state sovereignty, or it continues down a path of confrontation, an option that carries significant political and security costs.”

He noted that Hamas currently lacks the internal cohesion and public support to take a defiant stance. Internal divisions have grown between factions aligned with Iran and others favoring political reintegration within the broader Muslim Brotherhood framework.

Political analyst Dr. Qassem Qassir said Hamas’ leadership, based largely in Qatar, remains mindful of Lebanon’s fragile security. “Hamas doesn’t want to endanger Lebanon,” he said, adding that the group is likely to act cautiously given the broader regional context.

Meanwhile, Abbas’ visit is seen as an opportunity to reshape Palestinian-Lebanese relations and advance state authority in Palestinian camps. Lebanese officials are seeking a roadmap, backed by the Palestinian Authority, that could lead to the phased dismantling of weapons in refugee camps, following similar efforts targeting pro-Syrian Palestinian factions in the Bekaa and Naameh regions.

Hamas’ presence in Lebanon had traditionally been limited to social and political activities. But its military footprint began to emerge after a 2022 explosion in the Burj al-Shemali camp. Since the Gaza war erupted in October 2023, Hamas’s armed wing has become more active in southern Lebanon, coordinating with Hezbollah in launching attacks on Israel, further complicating its position with Lebanese authorities.