PMFs injure arrest army conscript, arrest police personnel in confrontations in Mosul

Mosul (IraqiNews.com) Confrontations have occurred between the shia-led paramilitary troops and the Iraqi army in the western side of Mosul, an informed security source was quoted saying on Wednesday.

Speaking to Shafaq News, the source said that shootout took place after clashes with Sayyid al-Shuhadaa brigades, which works under the umbrella of al-Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces), at the entrance of the fourth bridge in west Mosul, which left a soldier wounded.

“Troops of the same brigade arrested four police conscripts at the entrance of al-Tayaran district, south of Mosul,” the source, who preferred anonymity, added.
The forces, according to the source, “arrested the police personnel while being on duty at a checkpoint in the district.”

PMFs, an alliance of more than 60 mostly Shia militias, have been actively engaged in the government’s campaign that ran since October 2016 against the Islamic State, which declared a self-styled “caliphate” from Mosul in June 2014. The troops contributed to the campaign by regaining control over IS holdouts near the Syrian borders. It is considered one of the largest militias in Iraq. It was established in 2014 by a fatwa (religious edict) to fight the Islamic State.

In late 2016, the Iraqi parliament recognized the militia as a national armed force.