Iraqi police clashed with popular mobilization forces in Baghdad after raiding a building at the Ministry of Agriculture.
At least one police officer was killed and 14 fighter jets were taken into custody after a shootout exploded in the Iraqi capital.
The Home Ministry said Sunday’s violence broke out in Baghdad’s Kirk district.
The gunman confused the official meeting and sparked panic between staff and emergency police response teams. Police responded that the scene was “on fire,” causing injuries among the guards.
The ministry said “will not tolerate any parties that attempt to forcibly threaten or blackmail national institutions.”
Group: “I don’t want to escalate”
Locally known as Hashd al-Shaabi, the PMF consists primarily of Shiite paramilitary groups formed to fight ISIL (ISIS), but has since been formally integrated into Iraqi military forces. Some of that factions maintain close ties with Tehran.
Security sources and witnesses in the building said the fighter planes aim to block the former director’s replacement. Hospitals and police officers confirmed that one officer was killed and nine people were injured in the clash.
A statement from Iraqi Joint Operations Command, reporting to Prime Minister Mohammed Shea al-Sudani, said that the detained gunmen had been referred to the judiciary. The officials belonged to PMF Brigades 45 and 46. The unit is widely associated with Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq’s most powerful Iranian-sponsored militias.
An unnamed member of Kataib Hezbollah told AFP news agency that the group’s fighter jets were killed and six other people were injured. The group “doesn’t want to escalate” and will allow the judiciary to take the course, group members said.
In response to the escalation, Al Sudani ordered the investigation committee to investigate the event.
The PMF’s ongoing influence in Iraqi politics and armed conflicts with state institutions raised concerns about the vulnerability of Iraqi security equipment and the blurred line between formal authority and powerful militias.
The battle for influence
For many years since the 2003 US invasion of Iraq, battles have been unfolding between Iran and the United States for government influence. Among those working in partnership with Iran are many members of the PMF who emerged in 2014 to fight ISIL.
In 2017, the legitimacy of the PMF was codified into the law against the wishes of Iraq’s interior ministry and defense ministries, bringing it under the supervision of Iraq’s national security advisers.
