Iraq’s National Security Council has authorized the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to respond to attacks targeting their positions, a move that could escalate regional instability. The decision follows an attack on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, that killed 15 PMF fighters.
The authorization allows the PMF, a predominantly Shiite paramilitary group formally integrated into Iraq’s security forces, to exercise self-defense “by all possible means,” according to the council’s statement. This development underscores growing regional tensions as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.
A senior Iraqi security official, speaking anonymously to CNN, warned that the order for retaliation could draw Iraq into a wider confrontation and further weaken stability in the region.
The council stated that Iraq’s security institutions, including the PMF, are fulfilling their duties in accordance with the Constitution and the law to maintain stability throughout the country, without directly referencing Tuesday’s attack. The PMF have accused the United States and Israel of carrying out recent attacks.
The statement described the PMF, known in Arabic as Hashd al-Shaabi, as a pillar of Iraq’s national security system, emphasizing that its members must operate strictly within the legal framework.
The meeting took place amid what the government called “unjustified attacks and serious violations of Iraqi sovereignty,” including bombings that have targeted headquarters. The announcement could influence future diplomatic talks and the positioning of international forces in the region.
The PMF have launched attacks against American bases in Iraq and the U.S. Embassy during the war, according to reports.
The attacks on PMF headquarters present a political challenge for Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who is seeking to maintain support from both the U.S. And factions within the majority-Shiite country.
The United States maintains an influential presence in Baghdad since the 2003 invasion that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, replacing him with governments led by Shiites aligned with Iran.
The PMF are an Iraqi state security service that Iran has infiltrated and uses to wield significant influence in Iraq, as noted by Understanding War. Despite being funded by the Iraqi state, some PMF factions remain loyal to Iran and dedicated to expelling U.S. Troops, according to The Washington Institute.
(With information from Reuters)
