Popular Mobilization Forces

Also known as PMU, Al-Hashd al-Shaabi, PMF, People's Mobilization Committee, PMC, Popular Mobilization Units

The Popular Mobilization Forces, also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), is an Iranian-backed paramilitary umbrella group that operates within Iraq. Although formally and legally part of the Iraqi Armed Forces and reporting directly to the prime minister, PMF leaders act independently from state control, and in practice, answer to the supreme leader of Iran.

In the Vinony graph

Vinony's link graph records 1,293 inbound references to Popular Mobilization Forces, and connects out to Islamic State, Ali Sistani and Iran–Israel conflict during the Syrian civil war.

Vinony files it under 2014 establishments in Iraq, Anti-ISIL factions in Iraq and Anti-ISIL factions in Syria.

Vinony links it to 29 Wikipedia language editions.

Wikipedia views (30d)

33,603 total

via Wikimedia Pageviews API

Key facts

Founder: Ali Sistani
Supreme leader: Mojtaba Khamenei
Chairman: Falih Al-Fayyadh
Chief of staff: Abu Fadak al-Mohammadawi
Notable commanders: Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis X
Dates of operation: 15 June 2014 – present
Country: Iraq
Allegiance: Iraq ( de jure ), Iran ( de facto , IRGC )
Headquarters: Baghdad , Iraq
Ideology: Shia Islamism , Khomeinism , Wilayat al-Faqih , Iranian interests , Anti-Sunnism , Anti-West , Anti-LGBT
Political position: Right-wing
Size: 60,000 (2014) , 230,000 (self-claimed in 2022)
Part of: Iraqi Armed Forces ( de jure , in effect largely under the control of Iran and the Axis of Resistance )
Allies: State allies Iran Iraq Russia Syria (until 2024) Non-state allies Islamic Resistance in Iraq Hezbollah Peshmerga (only against ISIS ) Islamic Dawa Party ( Nouri al-Maliki ) Syrian Democratic Forces (only against ISIS ) February 14 Youth Coalition Houthis Hezbollah Al-Hejaz Sinjar Resistance Units
Opponents: State opponents Israel United States Saudi Arabia Kuwait Iraq (sometimes) Non-state opponents Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant GMCIR Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order Al-Nusra Front Free Syrian Army Islamic Front White Flags Ansar al-Islam People's Mujahedin of Iran
Battles and wars: Iran–Israel proxy conflict War in Iraq (2013–2017) Syrian civil war 2017 Iraqi–Kurdish conflict Iraqi insurgency (2017–present) Attacks on US bases during the Gaza war 2026 Iran war 2026 Iranian strikes on the Kurdistan Region
Designated as a terrorist group by: Certain factions: United States United Arab Emirates Japan
Website: al-hashed.gov.iq

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Instance of: militia
Part of: Iraqi Armed Forces
Has part: Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq
Country: Iraq
Headquarters: Baghdad
Conflict: Battle of Mosul
Official website: al-hashed.net

Show 5 more facts

Commons category: Hashed al-Shaabi
topic's main category: Category:Popular Mobilization Forces
inception: 2014-03-13
operating area: Iraq
social media followers: 1319158

Sources (1)

ru.wikipedia.org

via Wikidata · CC0

~38 min read

Encyclopedic overview

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF; Arabic: قوات الحشد الشعبي, romanized: Quwwāt al-Ḥashd ash-Shaʿbī), also known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), is an Iranian-backed paramilitary umbrella group that operates within Iraq. Although formally and legally part of the Iraqi Armed Forces and reporting directly to the prime minister, PMF leaders act independently from state control, and in practice, answer to the supreme leader of Iran.

The PMF is composed of about 67 primarily Shia armed factions, almost all of which are Iranian-backed and openly pledge allegiance to the supreme leader of Iran. In 2024, the PMF's Chief of Staff, Abu Fadak al-Mohammadawi, openly declared that the PMF took orders from Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei's father and predecessor Ali Khamenei. PMF chairman Falih al-Fayyadh cooperates with the Iranian IRGC to implement Iranian instructions in Iraq and reinforce Iranian influence over the militias.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “Popular Mobilization Forces” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.