Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) continue to arrest prominent figures linked to the Saraya al-Khorasani brigades and Iran, who are accused of attacking civilian activists.
Less than 24 hours after the arrest of Hamid al-Jazairi, deputy commander general of the group, the PFM arrested on Monday 30 members of the Brigades while searching for their Secretary-General Ali Al-Yasiri.
Sources reported that Al-Yasiri “was not present at the Saraya headquarters during the raid launched by PMF security personnel."
“He intended to travel to Syria, but he returned and turned himself over in to the PMF Security Directorate,” the sources added.
Another source close to the PMF confirmed to Asharq Al-Awsat the dismantling of the Saraya al-Khorasani.
“The decision was issued following an Iranian approval,” the source explained, adding that the PMF chief of staff Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi, known as Abu Fadak, directly supervised the dismantling process, for unknown reasons.
“It seems that the dismantling decision has the blessing of other factions in the PMF and was welcomed by the Iraqi government, particularly given the bad reputation associated with this faction at the local level.”
In May, Head of the PMF Faleh al-Fayyad relieved al-Jazairi and Waad Al-Qaddo of their duties. Both are known for their loyalty to Iran.
The decision has dealt a severe blow to the influence of the Iraqi militias affiliated with Tehran.
Jazairi has been accused of leading a team of snipers who killed protesters in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad in October last year, when Iraqis protested against Iranian influence in Iraq.
The Saraya al-Khorasani Brigades is closely linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and accused of doing Tehran’s “dirty” works in Iraq.
