ISIS Bombings Expose Shortfalls in Iraq’s Security Forces

The blasts emphasize the dysfunction of the Iraqi Security Forces, who have been struggling amidst the spread of coronavirus, corruption, and political divisions. Following the departure of U.S. troops in Iraq in 2004, Iraq had to essentially rebuild its entire security force structure, leaning heavily on foreign intervention and training. Over 250,000 local troops have been trained and mentored by the U.S.-led coalition, which initially intervened at the onset of the Islamic State crisis in 2014. At the same time, Iranian-supported Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) entered the conflict and also contributed to the counter-IS movement in the country. By 2018, the PMU Shi’ite militias were formally inducted into Iraq’s Security Forces.

Despite efforts to consolidate PMU militias into a singular body within the security forces, dozens of umbrella groups persisted—many adhering to Tehran’s interests. Although Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei repeatedly requested that the Iraqi government not consolidate the Shi’ite militias into the army, in spring 2019, then-Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi issued an order directing PMU factions to fully integrate into the security forces.

By fall 2019, PMU militias displayed their unwillingness to follow Mahdi’s integration decree following the anti-Iran protests that swept Iraq. Days into the start of the demonstrations, PMU leaders began to deploy militants to suppress protestors on their own volition. Some of these Iran-backed units used snipers to take out demonstrations, and others formed “death squads” responsible for dozens of murders and kidnappings. Videos circulated of PMU members stomping on the Iraqi national flag and photographs of the then-newly instated Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi.

In response to Iran’s malign and deadly influence in the 2019 protests, Kadhimi took a variety of measures to attempt to limit the power of the PMU in the country. The prime minister issued arrest warrants for militia members, released those imprisoned during the 2019 protests, and publicly denounced Iran’s deep entrenchment in Iraqi political and military spheres. Despite these efforts, the prominent PMU militia Kataib-Hezbollah began an incessant series of attacks targeting Baghdad’s Green Zone, home to the U.S. Embassy, in the last year. The continuation of these rocket attacks has caused tension between the Iraqi government and the United States. Iraq would benefit from a strong relationship with the United States and Iranian-backed militias are attempting to spoil that potential.