{"id":39474,"date":"2025-09-02T07:56:18","date_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:56:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/?p=39474"},"modified":"2025-09-02T07:56:18","modified_gmt":"2025-09-02T07:56:18","slug":"iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/","title":{"rendered":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Wednesday, Iraq\u2019s ruling coalition, the <\/span>Coordination Framework<\/span><\/i>, decided to suspend the vote on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority Law and postpone a decision on the future of these forces, whose ranks exceed 200,000 fighters.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is widely believed that this law, strongly opposed by Washington, would grant Iran-aligned groups an institutional framework parallel to the Ministry of Defense, with financial independence and the privilege of training in a dedicated military academy.<\/span><\/p>\n

The published draft revealed intentions to establish a \u201cDirectorate of Doctrinal Guidance,\u201d raising fears that PMF members could be indoctrinated with sectarian instructions, as Iran\u2019s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani have on multiple occasions defended the PMF and warned against its dissolution.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contrary to the common narrative of Iranian dominance, the Shiite coalition, fractured by internal divisions, is now grappling with the law through formalistic alternatives. Leaders inside the Coordination Framework see the armed wing as a hot coal that cannot be held for long.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to media reports, a senior figure said the coalition \u201cdecided to halt measures that were in sharp dispute with Washington,\u201d having reached a \u201cfinal conviction that passing the law would not serve Iraq\u2019s higher interests.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

During the meeting, the head of a Shiite party told colleagues that \u201cindicators coming from Washington are troubling and call for caution.\u201d Politicians spoke of U.S. threats ranging from \u201cground invasion\u201d to economic sanctions, considering Washington\u2019s designation of Iraq as a \u201cstate harboring terrorism.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Coordination Framework nevertheless decided to pursue an alternative formula: approving a set of security positions within the PMF Authority under government jurisdiction, without returning to parliament. One leader described this formula as \u201ccosmetic, to appease hardline factions,\u201d while sources suggested the government is unlikely to initiate even such measures due to calculations tied to relations with the U.S. and electoral pressures on the prime minister.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crisis reflects divisions within the Coordination Framework: one camp insists on passing the law to strengthen PMF legitimacy, while another fears international repercussions and American retaliation. Meanwhile, Sunni and Kurdish blocs remain explicitly opposed to the law.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also read: Iraq\u2013Syria Coordination on ISIS: Strategic Breakthrough or Delayed Battle?<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Origins: A Response to an Existential Threat<\/b><\/h2>\n

In comments to <\/span>+963<\/b>, Iraqi writer and journalist Salah al-Zubaidi offered a comprehensive reading of the origins, evolution, and challenges of the PMF, describing it as a \u201clegitimate state institution and one of the key pillars that preserved Iraq\u2019s sovereignty and security.\u201d<\/span>
\n<\/span>Zubaidi emphasized that \u201cthe PMF was born from the fatwa of <\/span>al-jihad al-kifa\u2019i<\/span><\/i> which is translated as \u201csufficient jihad\u201d (June 2014) after the fall of Mosul and ISIS\u2019s advance.\u201d The fatwa, he explained, \u201cwas clearly limited to defending the country, the system, and the constitution, not the project of a party or a sect.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The PMF emerged amid \u201ca lethal security vacuum, collapsed army units, an existential threat to Baghdad, shrines, and cities, and a Shiite-national popular base that pressed the state to fight.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The Najaf religious authority approached the PMF with three principles: \u201cdisciplined defensive mobilization, insistence on avoiding transgression and protecting lives and property, and keeping the force under the state, not outside it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

To prevent deviation, the PMF was codified in Law No. 40 of 2016, which Zubaidi described as \u201cthe legal foundation that protected the experiment,\u201d equating the PMF with the armed forces, subordinating it to the Commander-in-Chief, and granting it a budget, salaries, and disciplinary codes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Iraq\u2019s Belonging and Arab Role<\/b><\/h2>\n

Zubaidi rejected accusations of the PMF being a \u201cparallel state,\u201d calling it \u201ca politicized smear,\u201d since the PMF \u201cis a state structure with laws, accounting, and oversight by the Audit Bureau and parliament.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The organizational structure includes a presidency and sub-committees covering operations, staff, administration\/finance, intelligence, medical, logistics, engineering, media, education, and training.<\/span><\/p>\n

He acknowledged the PMF\u2019s accumulated capabilities in logistics and humanitarian operations, mine clearance, medical aid, disaster response; arguing these should be seen as \u201ca sovereign reserve for the state.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Operationally, the PMF \u201cfills border and desert gaps under Joint Operations Command,\u201d and \u201coutside the battlefield, it does not impose itself on ministries nor compete with them.\u201d Loyalty, he stressed, is \u201cto Iraq first,\u201d and its moral-religious authority sets the broad direction.<\/span><\/p>\n

As for its ties to the \u201cAxis of Resistance,\u201d Zubaidi described them as \u201ca defensive strategy: deterring ISIS and similar threats and deterring U.S.\u2013Israeli assaults on sovereignty.\u201d This, he said, was \u201ca network of support, training, and expertise; not a guardianship over Baghdad\u2019s decisions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Regionally, Iran \u201coffered training, arms, and advisory support at Iraq\u2019s official request during the 2014\u20132015 military collapse,\u201d while other countries provided intelligence and air support. He insisted: \u201cThe decision to fight was Iraqi, and victory was paid for with Iraqi blood.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Arab attitudes, Zubaidi noted, evolved from \u201cinitial demonization to pragmatic recognition after ISIS\u2019s defeat,\u201d with some Arab capitals now treating the PMF as \u201ca state component.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Also read: Over 200 Iraqi Families Depart Syria\u2019s Al-Hol Camp<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Domestic Context and the Sunnis<\/b><\/h2>\n

Zubaidi highlighted a shift in Sunni attitudes: \u201cfrom fear to security partnership, through local brigades and tribal support.\u201d He credited this to \u201cdisciplined conduct, compensation, reconstruction, and respect for local communities.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Rejecting parallels with Hezbollah, he argued that \u201cthe contexts differ: Lebanon is a fragile state facing direct Israeli threat, while Iraq is a large state with an army, police, and vast borders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He outlined five factors for cohesion: unified professional training, standardized weapons, strict military hierarchy, separation from party arms (no elections in the PMF\u2019s name, no political posturing), transparent financial governance, renewed social contracts with liberated provinces (compensation, reconstruction, swift accountability for violations), and evolving missions like border protection, desert cell clearance, tactical air defence, and humanitarian engineering.<\/span><\/p>\n

Threats to cohesion, he warned, include internal politicization and media rivalries, legal warfare and sanctions targeting leaders, security infiltration and \u201cfalse-flag\u201d incidents designed to implicate the PMF, and administrative corruption or logistical stagnation if left unreformed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Zubaidi also addressed the Sadrist movement\u2019s influence, warning that \u201cShiite\u2013Shiite conflict weakens the national front and opens doors for adversaries.\u201d He called for \u201cshielding the PMF from partisan feuds and agreeing on rules of political engagement that safeguard security.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He concluded: \u201cThe PMF is a legitimate state institution, born of a fatwa and sealed by law. Its role is to protect Iraq, not contest power. Its regional ties are a deterrent arm, not a project of domination. Its strength lies in its discipline, electoral neutrality, and service to the people in peace as in war.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIranian Militias of Money and Management\u201d<\/b><\/h2>\n

Dr. Bassim Assaf, a Lebanese researcher and political analyst, presented to <\/span>+963<\/b> a contrasting perspective, focusing on Iran\u2019s role and sectarian risks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Assaf argued that \u201cthe PMF was established only after U.S. security was secured, and following Iran\u2019s penetration of Iraq socially, militarily, and politically.\u201d He said Tehran supported dozens of Iraqi factions, which then coordinated with the U.S. military and asserted control in various areas.<\/span><\/p>\n

He blamed Iraqi governments and political chaos for the rise of armed factions \u201cthat aligned on a sectarian basis to form the PMF, supported by Iran.\u201d Some militias, he noted, did not join the PMF, \u201cespecially certain Shiite factions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Assaf, the PMF \u201ccarries multiple meanings, both domestic and external, particularly in relation to Iran\u2019s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has spread its influence across Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, and sought expansion beyond.\u201d He stressed that the PMF \u201cwas in sync with the IRGC,\u201d its organizational structure \u201cmade up of militias managed and financed by Iran, giving Tehran the upper hand in Iraq.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He warned that \u201cthe growing military power of the PMF and the obedience of certain factions to Iranian orders created a threat of militarization and political interference, coordinated with Tehran.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Arab states, he noted, often compare the PMF to Hezbollah and the IRGC, seeing in them a \u201csingle operational plan from Lebanon to Iraq to Yemen\u2019s Houthis.\u201d From a sectarian angle, Assaf asserted that \u201cSunnis are the biggest victims of the PMF\u2019s actions, which built dozens of prisons specifically for Sunni populations.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Also read: Former Iran-Backed Fighter Arrested Crossing from Iraq into Syria<\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Between Hezbollah and Iran\u2019s Negotiations<\/b><\/h2>\n

Assaf argued that unlike Hezbollah, the PMF \u201cdid not spread its influence regionally to the same extent,\u201d noting that the Sadrist movement remained \u201crooted in Iraqi priorities, not reliant on Iranian funding or orders.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

He predicted that the PMF\u2019s fortunes would decline as \u201cIsrael strikes deeper into Iran, and as nuclear and weapons negotiations advance between Washington, Tehran, and Tel Aviv.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe PMF will be affected by these negotiations,\u201d Assaf said. \u201cSilencing Iran\u2019s regional proxies will certainly include the PMF. It will not play a major role in the future, as drying up Iran\u2019s financial channels will curb these groups. The PMF will not become another Hezbollah in Lebanon or the Houthis in Yemen. Instead, the militarization of Iran\u2019s Iraqi proxy groups will be brought to an end.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last Wednesday, Iraq\u2019s ruling coalition, the Coordination Framework, decided to suspend the vote on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Authority Law and postpone a decision on the future of these forces, whose ranks exceed 200,000 fighters. It is widely believed that this law, strongly opposed by Washington, would grant Iran-aligned groups an institutional framework parallel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":39475,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":{"format":"standard","override":[{"template":"1","single_blog_custom":"0","parallax":"1","fullscreen":"1","layout":"left-sidebar","sidebar":"default-sidebar","second_sidebar":"default-sidebar","sticky_sidebar":"1","share_position":"float","share_float_style":"share-normal","show_share_counter":"1","show_view_counter":"1","show_featured":"1","show_post_meta":"1","show_post_author":"1","show_post_author_image":"1","show_post_date":"1","post_date_format":"default","post_date_format_custom":"g:i a d\/m\/Y","post_reading_time_wpm":"300","post_calculate_word_method":"str_word_count","show_zoom_button":"1","zoom_button_out_step":"5","zoom_button_in_step":"4","show_post_tag":"1","number_popup_post":"1","show_post_related":"1"}],"image_override":[{"single_post_thumbnail_size":"crop-500","single_post_gallery_size":"crop-500"}],"trending_post_position":"meta","trending_post_label":"Trending","sponsored_post_label":"Sponsored by","disable_ad":"0","subtitle":"The PMF in Iraq between U.S. Pressure, Iranian Retreat, and Internal Divisions"},"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_override_counter":{"view_counter_number":"0","share_counter_number":"0","like_counter_number":"0","dislike_counter_number":"0"},"jnews_post_split":{"post_split":[{"template":"1","tag":"h2","numbering":"asc","mode":"normal","first":"0","enable_toc":"0","toc_type":"normal"}]},"footnotes":""},"categories":[382,19],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[390],"class_list":["post-39474","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinions","category-slider"],"yoast_head":"\nIraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d - 963+<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"963+\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/963mediaAr\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"512\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Ahmad Al-Jaber\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@963mediaAr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@963mediaAr\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Ahmad Al-Jaber\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ahmad Al-Jaber\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/50c93df56e7c39d3302afc1e5f41c3c5\"},\"headline\":\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1519,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Opinions\",\"Slider\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/\",\"name\":\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d - 963+\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00\",\"description\":\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/09\\\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg\",\"width\":1024,\"height\":512},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/02\\\/09\\\/2025\\\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"963+\",\"description\":\"A diverse political, economic, cultural, and social website.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"\u0645\u0648\u0642\u0639 \u0633\u064a\u0627\u0633\u064a \u0627\u0642\u062a\u0635\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062b\u0642\u0627\u0641\u064a \u0627\u062c\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0639\u064a \u0645\u0646\u0648\u0651\u0639\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"\u0633\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0647\u0627\",\"alternateName\":\"\u0645\u0648\u0642\u0639 \u0633\u064a\u0627\u0633\u064a \u0627\u0642\u062a\u0635\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062b\u0642\u0627\u0641\u064a \u0627\u062c\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0639\u064a \u0645\u0646\u0648\u0651\u0639\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/392787211_122123525570182848_4459271165355755754_n.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2024\\\/02\\\/392787211_122123525570182848_4459271165355755754_n.jpg\",\"width\":960,\"height\":960,\"caption\":\"\u0633\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0647\u0627\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/963mediaAr\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/963mediaAr\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/963media.ar\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/t.me\\\/ar963media\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/50c93df56e7c39d3302afc1e5f41c3c5\",\"name\":\"Ahmad Al-Jaber\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/0000000000.jpg34c51c5511193cded7e880e8f5364728\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/0000000000.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/0000000000.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Ahmad Al-Jaber\"},\"description\":\"Syrian journalist and editor at +963 team\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/963media.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/ahmad-aljaber\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d - 963+","description":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d","og_description":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.","og_url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/","og_site_name":"963+","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/963mediaAr","article_published_time":"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":512,"url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Ahmad Al-Jaber","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@963mediaAr","twitter_site":"@963mediaAr","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Ahmad Al-Jaber","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/"},"author":{"name":"Ahmad Al-Jaber","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/50c93df56e7c39d3302afc1e5f41c3c5"},"headline":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d","datePublished":"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/"},"wordCount":1519,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg","articleSection":["Opinions","Slider"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/","name":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d - 963+","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg","datePublished":"2025-09-02T07:56:18+00:00","description":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces face U.S. pressure, Iranian influence, and internal divisions as debates rage over their future and legitimacy.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/\u0627\u0644\u062d\u0634\u062f-\u0627\u0644\u0634\u0639\u0628\u064a-1024x512-1.jpg","width":1024,"height":512},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/02\/09\/2025\/iraqs-popular-mobilization-forces-from-a-fatwa-of-jihad-to-the-wall-of-the-nation\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Iraq\u2019s Popular Mobilization Forces\u2026 From a Fatwa of Jihad to the \u201cWall of the Nation\u201d"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/","name":"963+","description":"A diverse political, economic, cultural, and social website.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#organization"},"alternateName":"\u0645\u0648\u0642\u0639 \u0633\u064a\u0627\u0633\u064a \u0627\u0642\u062a\u0635\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062b\u0642\u0627\u0641\u064a \u0627\u062c\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0639\u064a \u0645\u0646\u0648\u0651\u0639","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#organization","name":"\u0633\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0647\u0627","alternateName":"\u0645\u0648\u0642\u0639 \u0633\u064a\u0627\u0633\u064a \u0627\u0642\u062a\u0635\u0627\u062f\u064a \u062b\u0642\u0627\u0641\u064a \u0627\u062c\u062a\u0645\u0627\u0639\u064a \u0645\u0646\u0648\u0651\u0639","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/392787211_122123525570182848_4459271165355755754_n.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/392787211_122123525570182848_4459271165355755754_n.jpg","width":960,"height":960,"caption":"\u0633\u0648\u0631\u064a\u0627 \u0648\u0627\u062d\u0648\u0627\u0644\u0647\u0627"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/963mediaAr","https:\/\/x.com\/963mediaAr","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/963media.ar\/","https:\/\/t.me\/ar963media"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/50c93df56e7c39d3302afc1e5f41c3c5","name":"Ahmad Al-Jaber","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0000000000.jpg34c51c5511193cded7e880e8f5364728","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0000000000.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0000000000.jpg","caption":"Ahmad Al-Jaber"},"description":"Syrian journalist and editor at +963 team","url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/author\/ahmad-aljaber\/"}]}},"authors":[{"term_id":390,"user_id":107,"is_guest":0,"slug":"ahmad-aljaber","display_name":"Ahmad Al-Jaber","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0000000000.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/0000000000.jpg"},"author_category":"","first_name":"Ahmad","last_name":"Al-Jaber","job_title":"","description":"Syrian journalist and editor at +963 team."}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39474","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39474"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39474\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39476,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39474\/revisions\/39476"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39475"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39474"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39474"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39474"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/963media.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=39474"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}