The Popular Mobilization Authority confirmed that it is an official Iraqi military force that is committed to all orders issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and that it exercises its work in accordance with the contexts and laws that apply to all Iraqi security institutions.

A statement issued today by the commission stated that since the first moment in which he established the crowd, it was "providing a determination for sacrifice to the homeland", "as we did not seek a show or position except the pleasure of God and expel the darkness and the oppressors from the land of light and the prophets."

He added that "the popular crowd has earned respect and reverence for all our people of all backgrounds and references."

In the statement, the crowd affirmed that it is not concerned with any political conflicts or internal events taking place in the country, and it is not responsible for parties using its name for the purposes of distortion and defamation, and the conduct of suspicious operations and illegal military activity targeting foreign or civilian interests.

The commission indicated - according to its statement - that the attempts of internal and external parties to stick him in this are attempts to mix up the papers and mislead public opinion.

The crowd's statement was preceded by a statement by the Parliamentary Al-Fateh Alliance (48 seats in Parliament) - which is led by Hadi Al-Ameri and represents many of the crowd factions - in which he expressed his condemnation of the missile attacks launched by unknown persons on the headquarters of diplomatic missions and official institutions, considering that they weaken the state and lead to serious results.

In the past few weeks, there has been an escalation in attacks targeting the US embassy in Baghdad, American forces, and the forces and interests of other countries in the international coalition.

In the statement, the coalition called on the judiciary and the security services to stand firmly and forcefully and end the series of kidnappings, assassinations and stir terror among the people, behind which "sinful hands want to stir up chaos and shuffle the cards."

The coalition's statement also called on the crowd to stay away from everything that harms its image, and called on everyone to be careful and not to unleash accusations.

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- Muqtada al-Sayyid Muhammad al-Sadr (@Mu_AlSadr) September 23, 2020

Sadr’s position


The leader of the Sadrist movement, Muqtada al-Sadr, said in a statement on Wednesday that factions in the Popular Mobilization Forces are behind the repeated missile attacks, kidnappings and assassinations, calling on the leaders of the crowd to distance themselves from these attacks.

Al-Sadr stressed in his tweet on Twitter the need to strive to end making Iraq an arena for the struggle of others, adding, "Let us strive together for the independence, sovereignty and security of Iraq, otherwise Iraq will be lost from our hands."

The dismissal of two leaders


In another context, the Popular Mobilization Authority announced the dismissal of two prominent officials from their posts, without explaining the reasons for this.

Iraqi media circulated two decisions issued by the head of the Mobilization Authority, Faleh Al-Fayyad.

One of them was issued on August 28, and the other on September 21.

The first included the exemption of the commander, Hamid al-Jazaery, from the duties of the commander of the 18th Brigade in the Hashd, and the assignment of Ahmed Mohsen Mahdi al-Yasiri to replace him.

Whereas, the other decision stipulated the exemption of Waad al-Qaddo from the duties of the commander of the 30th Brigade in the crowd, and the assignment of Zain al-Abidin Jamil Khader to replace him.

The two orders did not specify the reasons for the dismissal of the officials, while activists considered this procedure to be for the aforementioned leaders ’involvement in killings and kidnappings against protesters.

Since the beginning of October 2019, Iraq has witnessed popular protests against the ruling political class, which the protesters accuse of corruption and dependence on the outside, and activists in the protests have been subjected to repeated assassinations and kidnappings at the hands of unknown gunmen.