Why Iraq needs the Popular Mobilization Units in fight against IS
Given the critical role of the PMU to date, its participation in upcoming battles against IS seems inevitable.
Despite reports that members of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) are torturing and committing other atrocities against Sunnis, the forces appear to be indispensable in battling the Islamic State (IS) and are likely to be involved in future fighting.
The PMU took part in operations to recapture Tikrit in March 2015 and Fallujah in June 2016 and helped achieve great successes against IS. The forces have become a key element in the fight against IS and are ready to fully participate in liberating Mosul, according to Hadi al-Ameri, leader of the Badr Organization, a PMU faction.
PMU abuses
Every time the Iraqi security forces achieve victory with PMU participation, there are reports of abuses by the mostly Shiite PMU, followed by demands that the group be excluded from operations to liberate Sunni areas.
