It’s time for Iraq’s militias to lay down arms Updated Jan 18, 2021 | 16:57 IST
If the Iraqi leadership acts wisely and harnesses the support of Al-Sistani, Baghdad can outmanoeuvre, out-fund and out-gun the militias. File image: Mustafa al-Kadhimi speaks to Parliament in Baghdad | Photo Credit: AP
Militias need war to legitimise them. That is how the Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and elsewhere in the region justify their existence. Iraq has seen plenty of war for 40 years, but the latest threat, from ISIS, has been seen off with American help, and the US will soon withdraw its troops. If there ever was a need for the militias – which is doubtful – it is no longer there. But despite all entreaties, the Iraqi militias refuse to go.
tikrit from isis. they are fighting to dislodge the islamic group. and as ben wedeman reports, they re also getting help from iran. reporter: the attempt by iraq to re-take the town of tikrit from isis is well underway. according to iraqi media reports, there may be as many as 30,000 iraqi soldiers police men, sunni tribal leaders as well as fighters with the shia popular mobilization unit involved in this offensive. and the iraqi media says the army and the other militias have been able to take some territory to the south of tikrit. now what s interesting is the level of iranian involvement in this operation. the head of the elite iranian kutz force is reportedly in the area. he is playing a supervisory role