BAGHDAD — In western Iraq, at Ayn al-Asad air base, US troops are advising and training Iraqi forces. Adjoining the base, units from the Hezbollah Brigades make camp as part of the Popular Mobilization Units. The units, alongside government forces, are fighting the Islamic State (IS), which controls 17% of the country, 

In that general context, unconfirmed reports have been circulating in the Iraqi media about rising friction between the Popular Mobilization Units and US troops. Yet, despite these reports remaining in the realm of media hearsay, insiders admit that friction between the two parties seems likely, due to their proximity and the probable convergence of unforeseen future political and military developments that may lead to confrontations between the two.

Such expectations are based on previous stances. On Dec. 1, the Hezbollah Brigades threatened to pursue and target US forces in Iraq, as "they refuse the help of US forces in the war against IS.”

On Sept. 22, some factions of the Popular Mobilization Units, namely the Hezbollah Brigades, the Badr Organization and the League of the Righteous, issued a joint press release warning that a return of US troops to Iraq would be viewed “as renewed occupation of Iraq by the United States.” They further called on the Iraqi government “not to seek help from US forces.”