Speaking to al-Mayadeen TV channel, Ahmed al-Assadi denounced the psychological warfare campaign that accuses the Iraqi popular forces of implementing Iran’s plans.
Hashd al-Shaabi units pursue a single objective and that is supporting the Iraqi nation, he underlined.
He also deplored attempts at obstructing the involvement of the PMU fighters in military operations against the Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group, describing such opposition to a stronger role by Hashd al-Shaabi as an indirect support for terrorism.
Assadi further rejected proposals that Hashd al-Shaabi should coalesce with other Iraqi military organizations, warning that it would spell dissolution of the PMU.
Hashd al-Shaabi forces, numbering more than 100,000, were actively involved in the battle to retake Iraq’s northern city of Mosul from Daesh, and are currently fighting terrorists in the city of Tal Afar.
In November 2016, the Iraqi Parliament passed a bill recognizing the Hashd al-Shaabi as a government entity operating alongside the Arab country’s army.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi welcomed the legislation, saying the newly-formed force “will represent and defend all Iraqis, wherever they are.”