After a tense night, the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq reversed their decision to fire security chief Abu Zeinab al-Lami. Sources said Kata’ib Hezbollah forced the PMF to backtrack by encircling their headquarters in Baghdad with armed fighters.
Iraqi sources reported on Thursday morning that the head of the PMF had dismissed al-Lami and temporarily appointed Ali al-Zaidi. However, the PMF later reversed this decision under unclear circumstances.
Local media reported that armed Kata’ib Hezbollah members, with vehicles and medium weapons, surrounded the PMF headquarters in Baghdad, where al-Lami’s office is, and warned against enforcing his dismissal.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that government officials, security leaders, and faction heads held contacts amid a tense atmosphere of threats.
Kata’ib Hezbollah sent 15 armed vehicles to seize the PMF headquarters, coinciding with talks between PMF Chief of Staff Abu Fadak Al-Mohammedawi and government officials. This led to reversing al-Lami’s dismissal.
Both Abu Fadak and al-Lami are from Kata’ib Hezbollah, and many believe the dismissal aimed to reduce the faction’s influence in PMF security institutions.
Social media reported that Kata’ib Hezbollah’s vehicles parked at the security directorate’s back lot after militants took control of the building.
Al-Lami had been making key decisions without consulting PMF leader Falih al-Fayyadh or Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.
Reports suggest the dismissal order came from al-Sudani, but sources believe Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq was behind it, with the prime minister signing the order.
The dismissal is rooted in deep conflicts between Kata’ib Hezbollah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, with the latter seeking full control over the PMF, according to sources.
