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Clashes Erupt in Baghdad as PMF Challenges Government Authority

7/28/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Tensions flared in Baghdad's Karkh district as Iraqi police clashed with Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) trying to breach a government building. This confrontation highlights the PMF's escalating influence and the intricate power struggles within Iraqi governance, shaped by the competing interests of the US and Iran.

History

Historical Context

The rise of the Islamic State in 2014 prompted the Iraqi government to form the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), uniting various militias. By 2016, the PMF had grown to over 100,000 fighters, complicating Iraq's security dynamics. Recent violence in Baghdad highlights ongoing tensions between state authority and militia influence, reflecting the challenges Iraq faces in establishing effective governance and public safety.

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Story summary

Tensions flared in Baghdad's Karkh district as Iraqi police clashed with Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) trying to breach a government building. This confrontation highlights the PMF's escalating influence and the intricate power struggles within Iraqi governance, shaped by the competing interests of the US and Iran.

1 / 2