The People's Mobilization | |
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الحشد الشعبي | |
Popular Mobilization Forces logo
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Active | 15 June 2014 – present |
Country | Iraq |
Allegiance | Iraq |
Type | Government-sanctioned paramilitary |
Role |
Infantry (militia) National guard Counterinsurgency |
Size | 100,000 to 120,000 |
Part of | Prime Minister Office |
Engagements | |
Commanders | |
Leaders |
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Notable fighters | Abu Azrael |
Insignia | |
Patch |
Popular Mobilization Forces | |
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Al-Hashd al-Shaabi Participant in the Iraqi Civil War (2014–present) |
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Active | 15 June 2014 – present |
Ideology | Predominantly Shia Islam Iraqi nationalism |
Groups | |
Headquarters | Baghdad |
Area of operations | Iraq |
Allies | |
Opponents | Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant |
Iraqi Civil War (2014-present)
The People's Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) (Arabic: الحشد الشعبي Al-Hashd Al-Sha'abi), is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40 militias, which are mainly Shia Muslim groups, but there are Sunni Muslim, Christian, and Yazidi individuals as well. The People's Mobilization was formed for deployment against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The organization was formed by uniting existing militias under the "People's Mobilization Committee" of the Iraqi Ministry of Interior in June 2014. The Popular Mobilization Units has been accused of human rights violations against Sunni civilians and sectarian bloodletting. On 19 December 2016, Iraqi President Fuad Masum approved a law passed by parliament in November that incorporated PMU in the country’s armed forces. With this incorporation, the PMU are now subject to the supreme commander of the national armed forces and will no longer be affiliated to any political or social group.