Under the title "Brigades Withdraw from Hashd Parade in Iraq: Previous Disputes Resurface," Al Arabiya reported that while factions affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces are preparing for a parade on Saturday in Diyala province, informed sources revealed to Al Arabiya/Al Hadath on Friday that several brigades have withdrawn and refused to participate.
The information disclosed that the "Ansar Al-Marja'iyya Brigade" and the "Imam Ali Brigade" have withdrawn from the parade following a decision made by the so-called "Marja'iyya Mobilization," which comprises factions loyal to Iraqi Shia religious leader Ali Al-Sistani. It was also reported that the "Saraya Al-Salam" forces affiliated with Muqtada Al-Sadr will not participate in this parade either.
Previous Disputes
The sources clarified that the "Marja'iyya Mobilization" decision to abstain from participation is related to the same reasons that previously led to its split from the Hashd. Previous disagreements have erupted between factions loyal to Al-Sistani and others to Tehran within the Popular Mobilization Forces, centered on the independence of those factions, their commitment to Iraqi laws, the decisions of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and their allegiance solely to Baghdad.
It is noteworthy that the Marja'iyya Mobilization, named after the religious shrines in Najaf and Karbala, consists of four factions: the Imam Ali Combat Division, the Abbas Combat Division, the Ali Al-Akbar Brigade, and the Ansar Al-Marja'iyya Brigade.
Many Hashd factions are accused by Iraqi activists and politicians of being loyal to Iran, at times prioritizing foreign interests over the interests of the Iraqi state. They are also accused of controlling some border crossings and public facilities, as well as several state-affiliated institutions to extend their authority and influence over citizens.
Recently, the detention of one of the Hashd leaders in Anbar on charges of involvement in the killing and intimidation of activists in the city, followed by his release, sparked outrage among many Iraqis, especially families of some activists who were killed by armed groups under mysterious circumstances, amidst accusations against those factions of domination and overreach.
