New Iraqi chief embraces Iran-backed PMU despite US efforts

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units, aiming to cement a presence in the country's government and security institutions, has persuaded incumbent Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi to ensure salaries for its fighters.

The PMU is a coalition of mostly Shiite armed groups in Iraq, many of them close to Iran, that fought the Islamic State alongside Iraqi forces.

PMU leaders sent requests Nov. 6 to Abdul Mahdi, complaining about budget allocations for the PMU. That same day, Abdul Mahdi’s government decided to place PMU salaries on the same scale as those of Iraq's police and armed forces. With that, the PMU achieved not only a structured pay plan, but an acknowledgement of its standing with the new government.

The PMU hadn't been so successful during the mandate of former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, with whom it had a history of tense relations and salary disputes. Abadi dismissed PMU leader Faleh al-Fayadh on Aug. 30, before Fayadh's term ended. But an Iraqi administrative court suspended Abadi's decision after the PMU lobbied for Fayadh's return.