Iraqi authorities arrest four Popular Mobilization Forces members, including senior leader

A joint force from Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service and Intelligence Directorate has arrested four members of the Popular Mobilization Forces, including senior official known as Abu Jaafar, a member of the organization’s General Staff Office.

The arrest operation was carried out at Abu Jaafar’s home in the Baladiyat district of eastern Baghdad, according to an Iraqi security source cited by Al Arabiya on Monday.

Iraqi authorities have not yet issued an official statement clarifying the reasons for the arrests or the charges against those detained.

The operation comes just days after the arrest of Abbas Al-Yaqubi, director of intelligence for the Popular Mobilization Forces’ Baghdad Belt Operations, on charges of carrying out attacks targeting US presence in Iraq. He was later released.

Last week, the Iraqi judiciary dismissed all charges against Al-Yaqubi, fully acquitting him and cancelling all related legal proceedings.

Al-Yaqubi previously served as intelligence chief for the Nujaba Movement and as director of intelligence for the Baghdad Belt Operations Command.

These developments come as Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s government continues efforts to ensure that all weapons remain under state control.

In recent months, the Nujaba Movement has rejected the government’s classification of “resistance” arms as part of the uncontrolled weapons targeted by its program.

Iraqi National Security Adviser Qasim Al-Aboudi said Wednesday that the government is pressing ahead with its security program to ensure weapons are only in state hands and to strengthen security agreements with allied and friendly countries, aiming to create a stable environment that supports economic reforms in Iraq.

Al-Aboudi added that the Iraqi constitution does not permit the existence of armed groups that threaten the security of neighboring countries or the region.