A gun fight erupted in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad, between members of the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) and Iraqi police, resulting in the death of at least one police officer and the detention of 14 fighters. The violence broke out in Baghdad’s Karkh district when PMF fighters stormed a Ministry of Agriculture building during the appointment of a new director.
The Interior Ministry stated that the gunmen disrupted an official meeting, stirring panic among staff and prompting an emergency police response team. Police responding to the scene “came under fire”, also resulting in injuries among security personnel. The ministry emphasized that it would not tolerate any official party attempting to impose its will by force and threaten state institutions.
The PMF, known locally as Hashd al-Shaabi, is composed mainly of Shia paramilitaries formed to fight ISIL (ISIS). Several of its factions maintain close ties to Tehran. Security sources and witnesses inside the building said the fighters aimed to block the replacement of the former director. Hospital and police officials confirmed one officer was killed and nine others were wounded in the clash.
A statement from Iraq’s Joint Operations Command, which reports to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, said the detained gunmen were referred to the judiciary. Those involved belonged to PMF brigades 45 and 46, units widely linked to Kataib Hezbollah, one of Iraq’s most powerful Iran-aligned militias. An unnamed member of Kataib Hezbollah told AFP news agency that a fighter from the group was killed and six others were wounded. The group “does not want to escalate” and will allow the judiciary to take its course, the group member said.
The incident highlights the fragility of Iraq’s security apparatus and the blurred lines between formal authority and powerful militia. The PMF’s continued influence in Iraqi politics and its armed confrontations with state institutions have raised concerns about the country’s stability. In response to the escalation, al-Sudani ordered an investigative committee to look into the events.
The battle for influence between Iran and the US has been ongoing in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion. The PMF’s legitimacy was codified into law in 2017, and it was brought under the oversight of Iraq’s national security adviser. The group’s influence in Iraqi politics and its armed confrontations with state institutions continue to be a concern for the country’s stability.