ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A bill aimed at further legitimizing pro-Iran armed factions has sparked controversy in Iraq. While the United States has voiced opposition to the move, two lawmakers affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), also known as Hashd al-Shaabi, told Rudaw they reject Washington’s interference. Mahdi al-Amerli, …

After the war, the Iranians made a strategic decision to continue supporting Hezbollah and to invest renewed resources in its strengthening and reconstruction efforts. Iranian “advisors” from the Revolutionary Guards arrived in Lebanon and are currently working closely with Hezbollah operatives as part of the organization’s renewed force buildup. Mainly …

The PMF is growing fast by every metric, from budget to authorized manpower to training and economic programs, though militia leaders seem wary of highlighting this expansion. Iraq’s 2023-2025 draft budget is yet to be ratified by parliament in its final form, but it is almost certain to include a …