Four Iraqi militia brigades have reportedly split from the Popular Mobilisation Forces and are now under the directives of the office of the departing Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
The killing of the PMF's chief of staff Abu Mahdi Al Muhandis in January by the US deprived the forces of their leading policymaker and challenged the standing of Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
In a letter addressed to Faleh Al Fayyad, the new head of the PMF, also known as Hashed Al Shaabi, Mr Abdul Mahdi said “their operations and administration” will now be directed by his office.
“The details will be disclosed at a later time,” the letter said.
The brigades who have split are the Imam Ali, Ali Al Akbar, Abbas and Ansar Al Marjaiya, all loyal to the top Shiite cleric Ayatollah Ali Al Sistani.
Mr Abdel Mahdi is no longer in office, with former head of intelligence Mustafa Al Kadhimi having taken up the role as Prime Minister designate this month.
He is still considered the last holder of the office, however, until a new leader can be decided on by Parliament.
The departing prime minister has come under pressure from Washington to curb Iran's influence in Iraq, particularly after recent unclaimed attacks against US interests in the country.
The militias, which helped Iraqi and US-led international coalition forces to drive out ISIS, have broad influence in Iraqi politics.
But Iraq declared victory against the militants in 2017. The decision is a direct message to the PMF that Mr Al Sistani's religious call to form a coherent fighting force against ISIS has come to an end, an Iraqi parliamentarian told The National.
“The Marjaiya [brigade] and the outgoing prime minister made this decision. That in itself sends a strong message,” he said.
An electoral alliance made up of militia leaders and fighters came second in a 2018 parliamentary election and went on alongside populist cleric Moqtada Al Sadr, whose political group came first, to nominate Mr Abdul Mahdi as premier.
Mr Abdul Mahdi issued a decree ordering the militias to come to heel by the end of July 2019, or be deemed “illegitimate”.
His decree forces groups that make up the PMF to choose between political and paramilitary activity.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
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An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.
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The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.
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Timeline
1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line
1962
250 GTO is unveiled
1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company
1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens
1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made
1987
F40 launched
1988
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2002
The Enzo model is announced
2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi
2011
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2013
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2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company
2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street
2017
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