Hashd al-Sha’abi continue to defend Iraq: PMU commander

A high-ranking member of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has brushed off calls by the US to lay down their weapons, stressing that they will continue to defend the country.

A high-ranking member of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) has brushed off calls by the US to lay down their weapons, stressing that they will continue to defend the country.

The PMU’s deputy chief, Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, made the remarks during an interview with The Associated Press on Monday.

“The future of the PMU is to defend Iraq,” he added

“The Iraqi army and Iraqi police say they cannot operate without the support of the Hashd,” he noted, using the group’s Arabic name Hashd al-Sha’abi.