Anbar officials reject Shiite popular mobilization forces
Officials in Iraq's Anbar province are concerned about the increase in revenge operations carried out by popular mobilization forces.
Officials in Iraq's Anbar province are concerned about the members of popular mobilization forces carrying out sectarian revenge operations against the residents of the province, 80% of which falls under the control of the Islamic State (IS).
The popular mobilization forces formed following the fall of Mosul on June 10, 2014, after supreme Shiite religious authority Ali al-Sistani announced the “righteous jihad” fatwa. The forces brought together a number of Shiite militias, some of which receive direct support from Iran.
On Feb. 6, members of the popular mobilization forces killed two Anbar tribesmen in al-Sajariyah in eastern Ramadi, stirring the anger of the local Anbar government and the tribes supporting the security forces.
Anbar's popular mobilization forces comprise about 3,000 members who are mostly concentrated around Amiriyat Fallujah, in addition to several military points where Iraqi security forces are stationed.
