A new Hashd bill is in parliament right now which is supposed to introduce reforms but will make no real changes. This is part of a process of empty promises by Iraq to curb pro-Iran armed factions to try to appease the new Trump administration.
The new bill is supposed to include all armed groups within the framework of the Hashd. It will also increase the power of the organization making the head of the Hashd Commission a minister and create a deputy minister as well as give it a seat on the National Security Committee. It’s also supposed to set an age limit for membership which will retire some of the force. There was also a controversy over whether Falah Fayad would retain the chairmanship. Asaib Ahl Al-Haq wanted him out but Fayad went to Tehran and got its backing to retain his position.
The bill is a response to threats made by the Trump administration. Washington has warned Baghdad that it must disarm or dismiss the pro-Iran factions or face sanctions. The problem is that the pro-Iran groups are already part of the Hashd so this law will change nothing. In fact it will increase its power within the government with a ministership.
The Hashd has become part of
the corrupt political system and is used by political leaders to increase their
power. For instance the
number of Hashd on the payroll has gone from 122,000 to 238,000 in 2023
despite there being no need for that many since there is no real insurgency in
Iraq anymore. The Hashd positions are used to dish out patronage along with
steal from the budget as there are thousands of ghost Hashd who do not exist
but are used to take their salaries. Hence the Hashd budget has gone from $2.16
billion in 2022 to $3.4 billion in 2024. There is also a company the Hashd run
which allows it to gain government contracts which are also abused for graft. It’s
for that reason that there will be no substantive change in the institution
because the elite will not allow it. Iran also does not want any diminishment of its allies especially after having lost the Assad government in Syria and its setbacks with Hezbollah and Hamas.
The question is how will the White House respond? Will it take some action as progress or will it demand more sweeping change and apply more pressure to achieve it?
SOURCES
Al Aalem, “After conflicting statements by Al-Sudani and Al-Sadiq, entanglement and ambiguity surround the issue of dissolving the Popular Mobilization Forces,” 3/29/25
- “After the Framework announced the merger of factions the latter to cross the stage,” 3/27/25
Al Mada, “After the Iranian Leader’s Speech … The Framework Considers Merging Militias with the Popular Mobilization Forces," 1/12/25
- “New Popular Mobilization Law: Al-Fayad to Remain, Military Academy for Mujahideen,” 3/27/25
- “The Prime Minister disappoints the leaders of the Framework and withdraws the Mobilization Law from Parliament,” 3/13/25
Mahmoud, Sinan, “Iraq moves to give PMF greater role in state security,” The National, 3/25/25
Shafaq News, “Iraq-PMF: Armed factions to be absorbed after Eid,” 3/30/25
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