Escalating tensions between the United States and Iran are spilling over into Iraq as the United States orders the evacuation of all non-emergency government personnel following Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s unexpected visit to the country.

Some of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), like Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, are spreading their influence into Iraqi politics and the Iraqi economy, in addition to their influence in the military and security sectors — occasionally threatening to attack US troops in Iraq.

The Donald Trump administration has been pressuring Iraq over the activities and influence of the Iranian-backed PMU factions. The United States imposed sanctions on Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba last March, but the sanctions are most likely not affecting their economic activities inside Iraq. Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi accused PMU leaders May 24 of owning a lot more property than they have in the past, questioning the source of this wealth.

Controversy and debate around PMU corruption are not new in Iraq, particularly in liberated territories. A ferry capsized in Mosul last March and brought to a head the question of the presence of the PMU in the former Islamic State (IS) stronghold after it surfaced that the tourist site the ferry belonged to was partially owned by a PMU group. While Asaib Ahl al-Haq denied involvement in the accident, the incident sparked public outcry against the PMU and their economic ventures around the city. The PMU is a complex and diverse umbrella organization that includes over 60 distinct groups of various ethno-sectarian backgrounds.