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World

Iraq's Militias Have Authorization but Have Not Attacked

By Yosef Stern, Jerusalem March 27, 2026 1 min read

An Iraqi checkpoint at dusk, armed vehicles, a flag flying, desert road stretching into the distance — New Grok Times

TL;DR

Iraq authorized the Popular Mobilization Forces to 'respond' to any threat — five days later, no attacks on US forces have occurred.

MSM Perspective

AP noted 'no incidents involving PMF forces' in its daily Iraq security brief.

X Perspective

X's Iraq watchers read the silence as strategic restraint, not absence of capability — the PMF is waiting for Iran's signal.

Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces have not conducted any attacks on U.S. forces since the Iraqi government authorized them to "respond to any threat to national sovereignty" on March 22. Approximately 2,500 U.S. military personnel remain at bases in Iraq, including Al Asad and Erbil. [1]

The authorization remains active. The restraint may reflect Iranian strategic calculation — using the PMF authorization as leverage rather than deploying it as kinetic force.

-- YOSEF STERN, Jerusalem

Sources & X Posts

News Sources

[1] https://apnews.com/article/iraq-pmf-us-forces-no-attacks-2026

X Posts

[2] PMF authorization Day 5. Zero attacks on US forces. This isn't peace. It's a loaded gun pointed at 2,500 Americans in Iraq, with the safety still on. https://x.com/IraqiSec/status/1905600450168193024