Iran seeks to topple Iraq through fake attacks on PMF

The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) has said it holds the United States ultimately responsible for a series of attacks, targeting their bases in Iraq, while pledging to defend themselves against any future attack.

However, the United States has denied any role in the blasts. A massive explosion hit a munitions depot run by an Iranian-backed militia near Baghdad last week.

Another blast at the al-Saqr base has reportedly killed one civilian, wounded more than 20 people and damaged nearby homes. The base houses a weapons depot for the Iraqi federal police and the mainly Shiite militias known as the Popular Mobilization Forces.

Following a national security meeting last week to discuss the string of attacks, Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi ordered a ban on all military flights throughout the country — including by members of the US-led coalition in Iraq — unless specifically authorized by the Defense Ministry. The coalition said it would abide by the order.

“We announce that the United States is ultimately responsible for what happened and we will hold it responsible for what will happen as of today. We have no choice but to defend ourselves and our bases with the weapons at our disposal,” said the statement, which was signed by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy head of the PMF.

Commenting on the blasts, researcher Mahmoud Gaber, an expert on Iranian affairs, said: “As no party has announced responsibility for the attacks, these attacks might have been faked by some Iranian-backed groups within the PMF”.

“Al-Muhandis’ statement proves that as the accusations are groundless, while the Pentagon has denied such accusations,” Gaber told THE REFERENCE.

Gaber added that the statement points to some mysterious scheme carried by the PMF in Iraq, especially after a leader of the PMF described the Iraqi army as group of mercenaries.