Provocative Step: Popular Mobilization Forces Honors Turkish Ambassador

In a move that sparked considerable controversy, the head of the Popular Mobilization Forces, Faleh al-Fayyad, honored the Turkish ambassador with a Popular Mobilization Forces shield, despite statements from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who described the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces as a terrorist organization. This honor comes at a time of notable tension in Iraqi-Turkish relations due to the Turkish military incursion in northern Iraq, targeting civilians and military sites, and taking advantage of the situation to expand its occupying presence. These developments occur amid increasing pressure on the Iraqi government to take a clear stance regarding Turkish interventions in Iraq, with many politicians and public figures in Iraq calling for a reassessment of relations with Turkey to ensure the protection of Iraqi sovereignty. President Erdoğan stated in an interview with Qatar's "Al Jazeera," as reported by Turkey's "Anadolu" news agency earlier, that "the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq is a terrorist organization, and attention should be paid to those who stand behind it."