Baghdad-INA
The Director of the General Directorate of Media in the Popular Mobilization Forces(PMF), Muhannad Al-Aqabi, confirmed on Wednesday that the Popular Mobilization Forces contributed to establishing security and regaining control over areas that were inaccessible before its establishment.
Al-Aqabi said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): “The American presence in Iraq during the period from 2003 to 2011 was primarily aimed at protecting American interests, and not at achieving security and stability in Iraq,” noting that “the Popular Mobilization Forces contributed to establishing security and restoring control over areas that were inaccessible before its establishment.”
Itcontinued, “The true birth of the Iraqi security forces was embodied with the issuance of the fatwa of sufficient jihad and the establishment of the Popular Mobilization Forces,” explaining that “the idea of defending Iraq and confronting terrorist threats was among the visions put forward by the martyr leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.”
It added that “Al-Muhandis believed in comprehensive national action and stressed the need to prioritize national interest over partisan and political affiliations,” noting that “the establishment of the Popular Mobilization Forces was preceded by visions, meetings and preparations overseen by Al-Muhandis.”
Al-Aqabi explained that “the volunteers who answered the call of the fatwa of sufficient jihad were driven by national pride and a sense of responsibility to defend Iraq and its holy sites,” noting that “the factions, holy shrines and volunteers gathered within the directorate that was established at that time under the title (Directorate of the Popular Mobilization Forces).”
The statement stressed that “the martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was a key pillar in leading field operations during the liberation battles, and he had a prominent role in achieving victories,” explaining that “the main plans to liberate the areas from the control of ISIS terrorist gangs were the result of the efforts and supervision of the two martyred commanders, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani.”
The statement added that "the Popular Mobilization Forces were able, during the liberation battles, to enter areas that the security forces were unable to reach in previous stages, and contributed to establishing security and regaining control over them, which supported the efforts to liberate Iraqi lands from terrorism."