Following a July 1 decree by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi ordering the factions of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) to be absorbed into the state security forces, pro-Iranian PMU factions have reacted with anger.

Abdul Mahdi’s decree says, “All Popular Mobilization Units are to operate as an indivisible part of the armed forces and be subject to the same regulations,” but does not clarify whether they must be integrated fully into the Iraqi army or become a parallel force under the supervision of the prime minister as commander in chief of the armed forces.

During his weekly press conference the next day, he said the time has come to regulate the PMU. "All Popular Mobilization Units personnel will be integrated into the police and army ranks according to Iraqi military regulations," he said, giving the PMU until July 31 to abide by the decree or hand over their weapons to the government and become a political party or civil organization.

There is a big difference between Abdul Mahdi's decree and the 2016 decree of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, which defined the PMU as an independent entity, unaffiliated with the Iraqi army and under the supervision of the prime minister rather than the Ministry of Defense.