Will Iraqi Shiite militias withdraw from Sunni areas?
Some factions of the Popular Mobilization Units have started to withdraw from Sunni areas, which they helped to liberate, in a step aimed at avoiding sectarian conflicts.
There are talks in Iraqi political circles about the withdrawal of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) from Sunni areas they helped liberate. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has reportedly committed to ensure the withdrawal of the PMU from these areas.
On Aug. 18, PMU factions withdrew from areas in the north of the Baiji district in the Salahuddin province, where they were positioned. This move comes days after Abadi ordered the head of the provincial council to remove the PMU from the area.
The withdrawal of the PMU was not limited to Baiji. On Aug. 19, PMU sources confirmed to Al-Monitor “the withdrawal of PMU factions from al-Siniya city, west of the [Salahuddin] province.”
Before Baiji, the PMU had retreated from the Ninevah province. Ahmed al-Jubouri, a member of parliament representing the province, considered the move “a political decision” that will not yield positive results on the general situation in the province.
