His task is not easy
The Iraqi Prime Minister wants to control the Iranian-backed militias
Al-Kazemi is like walking on a tightrope, but his performance so far is better than his predecessors.
Father
Despite the government’s attempt to control the PMF, at least some of them still operate outside the state’s control.
Reuters
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When Mustafa Al-Kazemi was elected prime minister in Iraq on May 7, one of his most important pledges was to place all armed groups under state control, nearly two decades after non-state actors exerted significant influence over the government.
On June 25, the anti-terrorist forces stormed the headquarters of the Popular Mobilization Units in southern Baghdad, a state-sponsored organization, and about 10 members of the 45th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Forces were arrested, which was considered a warning to Kataib Hezbollah, one of the largest groups of the Popular Mobilization Forces. The controversial one, which receives training and funding from Iran and declares its allegiance to the Iranian leader, Ali Khamenei, is accused of illegal activities, such as murder, kidnapping, and others, and the United States considered it a terrorist organization in 2009.
Frequent attacks
The June arrest came after repeated attacks on Iraqi installations hosting forces from the International Coalition, believed to be from groups linked to Iran.
The arrest process in June was mysterious, as most of the detainees were released on the 29th of the same month.
The spokesman for the "Hezbollah Brigades", Jaafar al-Husseini, told "Foreign Policy" that those arrested were accused of providing logistical support to the group, and he threatened, saying that "there is no force, whether local or international, capable of disarming the resistance." », Referring to the resistance alliance extending between Lebanon and Iran, and accused Al-Kazemi of flattery of the Americans.
The "Hezbollah Brigades" is the biggest challenge to the Iraqi government's ambition to subject all militants on its territory to state control.
The Popular Mobilization Forces were formed in June 2014 following a fatwa issued by the religious authority, Ali al-Sistani, after the "ISIS" took control of the Iraqi city of Mosul, and it became integrated with government forces, and played an important role in restoring the city of Mosul.
Although the government has tried to control these forces, at least some of them still operate outside the control of the state.
The state granted this group some privileges, such as obtaining government salaries and retirement, with the aim of attracting moderates to its ranks.
There are other indications that the Kazemi government is working to undermine the influence of individual PMF factions, which continue to operate independently.
In May, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that four of the PMF groups present in Iraq would be placed directly at the disposal of the prime minister, with the aim of encouraging the rest to distance themselves from Iranian influence and the "Hezbollah Brigades."
Block resources
The Kazemi government is trying to prevent resources from reaching these armed groups.
Smuggling has always been a profitable source of income for everyone who controls the informal corridors between Iraq, Syria, and Iran, and the western border of Iraq has been controlled by unofficial players since the defeat of ISIS there in 2017.
On July 11, Al-Kazemi visited the Iraqi border with Iran in a campaign aimed at fighting corruption, with the aim of collecting customs duties.
He said that "the campaign aims to protect the borders, and prevent ghosts from blackmailing the Iraqis," referring to "Hezbollah Brigades."
A few days later, the Joint Forces Command announced that it would conduct patrols to protect its borders with Iran, in addition to the borders with Kuwait.
Unlike his predecessor, Al-Kazemi enjoys significant political support.
Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim announced the formation of a coalition that includes 40 members of parliament to support the prime minister, who leads the largest parliamentary bloc.
Al-Hakim heads the National Wisdom Movement, an Islamist political coalition, and led the highly influential Supreme Islamic Council from 2009 to 2017.
Although he supported Al-Kazemi's predecessor, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, Ammar Al-Hakim turned against him last year, calling for protests against the government in more than one region in Iraq in July 2019.
Great support
Al-Kazemi has the support of many of the Iraqi people, and he can use that support against his opponents.
Since taking office last May, Al-Kazemi has worked to improve and enhance the image of his government in the public eye.
He re-appointed the commander of the counterterrorism forces, Abdel Wahab al-Saadi, who was also popular, and whose removal from his post had led to the outbreak of anti-government protests at the end of 2019, and pushed the country into a crisis.
This step alone helped him restore confidence between the military themselves, and with the people in general.
In addition, many Iraqis believe that the militias represent a threat to peace and stability, and Al-Kazemi's efforts to bring them under the mantle of the state are consistent with the demands of many ordinary Iraqis.
However, these militias will not easily give up their role, and the leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Qais Khazali, one of the popular crowd groups, broadcast a televised statement in response to the arrest of “Kataib Hezbollah,” warning Al-Kazemi from getting involved in more than just preparing the state. For early elections, and to address the economic and health issues that the Iraqis are suffering now.
Stop the attacks
Khazali stressed that Al-Kazemi would not be able to stop the attacks carried out by the "resistance factions" on the American forces in Iraq.
He said publicly that previous governments "ignored this issue because they were aware that they could not decide it at all."
The armed group led by Khazali is facing charges of involvement in the killing of protesters and activists during recent anti-government demonstrations.
On the political level, Hakim’s standing by Al-Kazemi is an important development, but the latter will need to search for more allies.
Although the “Al-Fateh Alliance”, the parliamentary bloc that represents the Popular Mobilization Forces, gave its support to the government, its leader, Hadi Al-Ameri, made it clear that he had provided his support on a conditional basis, on the basis of holding early elections and removing US forces from Iraq.
He also warned that his support could be withdrawn at any moment.
Although there are more political figures who would like to see a more stable Iraq, and that they would like to work with Al-Kazemi, there are still many who prefer to keep armed groups outside of state control.
Al-Kazemi appears to be walking a tightrope, and has to balance the opinions of the public, the military, other politicians, and of course Iran as well, in order to strengthen the legitimacy and authority of the Iraqi state.
This will not be easy, but Al-Kazemi's standing in the state, in addition to his efforts thus far, indicates that he is in a better position than his predecessors to enable the state to fight violence in Iraq.
Shelley Kittelson is an American freelance journalist focusing on the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Al-Kazemi has the support of much of the Iraqi people, and he can use that support against his opponents. Since taking office last May, Al-Kazemi has worked to improve and enhance the image of his government in the public eye.
The Al-Kazemi government is trying to prevent resources from reaching armed groups. Smuggling has always been a profitable source of income for everyone who controls the informal corridors between Iraq, Syria, and Iran, and the western borders of Iraq have been controlled by unofficial players since the defeat of ISIS there in 2017.
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