The State of Law Coalition, led by former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, issued a strong warning on Sunday. They cautioned about escalating tensions between the Iraqi government and armed factions.
This warning came shortly after Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani admitted to “flaws” within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). The PMF is a coalition of Shiite groups formed in 2014 to fight ISIS. Recently, armed clashes erupted between PMF fighters and security forces at Baghdad’s Agriculture Directorate.
In response, Al-Sudani ordered a thorough review of PMF unit deployments, leadership qualifications, and adherence to regulations. He set up a high-level ministerial and security committee to carry out this task.
Hussein al-Maliki, a prominent member of the coalition, spoke to Shafaq News. He said the law “must apply to all,” but he criticized the government’s recent actions. These actions included the investigative committee’s report on the Agriculture Directorate incident and the dismissal of two Kataib Hezbollah brigade commanders.
The State of Law Coalition warns that these government moves risk escalating conflict. Al-Maliki connected these steps to remarks made by the British ambassador about dissolving the PMF. He also mentioned a US veto blocking the PMF Authority Law’s approval.
He warned that, moreover, external actors might push the government toward confrontation with “resistance factions.” Consequently, this move could ignite a Shiite–Shiite conflict. Furthermore, he stressed that such a crisis would disrupt the electoral process and risk plunging Iraq into chaos.
Additionally, Al-Maliki warned the situation might even lead to an emergency government or UN Security Council intervention under Chapter VII. Therefore, he urged officials to hold individuals accountable without naming their groups publicly.
He also added that repeatedly blaming specific factions and pushing disarmament without passing the PMF law could make the government appear controlled by foreign powers. As a result, this perception, he said, could damage public trust.In conclusion, the State of Law Coalition warns that all issues involving the PMF must be solved through political dialogue. They warn that failure to do so could have severe consequences for Iraq’s stability and democracy.
