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National will behind formation of popular units: Iraq FM

Tuesday, 26 January 2016 6:51 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 26 January 2016 7:01 AM ]

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari speaks during a news conference in Baghdad, December 30, 2015. ©AP

Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari has defended volunteer fighters operating against Daesh, saying they are legitimate forces who have made many sacrifices for the Arab state.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Arab-India Cooperation Forum (AICF) in Bahrain, Jaafari said the volunteer fighters, known as the Popular Mobilization Forces or Hashd al-Shaabi, are an inclusive umbrella group that is not sectarian as it includes members from different Iraqi sects.

He was reacting to recent insulting comments by Saudi Ambassador to Baghdad Thamer al-Sabhan, who said the volunteer fighters were not popular among Iraqi people and accused them of sectarianism.

Iraq summoned the Saudi ambassador over the remarks, denouncing them "a break of diplomatic protocol and based on inaccurate information."

"The Hashd al-Shaabi are fighting terrorism and defending the country's sovereignty and acting under the umbrella and command of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces," the Iraqi Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Jaafari also said the Popular Mobilization Forces “are a national Iraqi power that entered the parliament" through people's vote.

The top Iraqi diplomat said the main priority for the volunteer forces is to assist government forces in the battle against Daesh terrorists.

Iraqi Sunni fighters from Popular Mobilization Forces take part in a parade during a ceremony marking at Amiriyat al-Fallujah in Anbar province, January 9, 2016. ©Reuters

They “have countered terrorism, stopped its progress and made sacrifices for the sake of Iraq’s unity, for the sake of Iraq’s unity. They have defeated terrorism,” Jaafari stressed.

Jaafari emphasized that Iraq does not evaluate the volunteers “through the statements of other states.”

Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi also dismissed criticism of volunteer forces, saying they prevented the fall of Baghdad and continue to assist the army in the anti-Daesh fight.

The Popular Mobilization Units have called for the expulsion of the Saudi ambassador for "instigating sedition and insulting the Iraqi people," saying al-Sabhan has “exceeded all the limits.”

Violence has plagued the northern and western parts of Iraq ever since Daesh terrorists launched an offensive and captured parts of the Iraqi territory.

The Popular Mobilization Units, which were formed after the rise of Daesh in Iraq in 2014, have joined forces with the army to win back militant-held regions.

In the early days of Daesh emergence in Iraq, the volunteer fighters played an important role in strengthening the army, which had initially suffered heavy losses amid quick advances of the Takfiri terrorists.

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