Shiite factions close to Sistani move to separate from Iran-backed militias - Al-Monitor: The Middle Eastʼs leading independent news source since 2012

Mustafa Saadoun

Mustafa Saadoun

Dec 4, 2020

Four factions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) recently met at the Imam Ali Shrine in the holy city of Najaf and said they planned to leave the PMU and more directly associate themselves with the Iraqi government. Here, the usually busy shrine is pictured empty on March 18, 2020, amid the coronavirus pandemic. — HAIDAR HAMDANI/AFP via Getty Images)

Iraqi Shi'ite Muslims from Hashid Shaabi (Popular Mobilization) march along a street as they hold a giant Iraqi flag during a parade marking the annual al-Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in Baghdad, Iraq July 1, 2016. REUTERS/Khalid al Mousily - RTX2J7X3

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PMU in Hawija 2017

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Mustafa Saadoun

Mustafa Saadoun

Sunni volunteers, who have joined the Abbas Fighting Division, shout slogans after a field training in Kerbala, Iraq December 20, 2017. Picture taken December 20, 2017. REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani - RC116223B030

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