Daijiworld Media Network- Baghdad

Baghdad, Apr 17: In a diplomatic move signalling growing unease, Iraq's Foreign Ministry has summoned the Lebanese ambassador to Baghdad, Ali al-Habhab, in protest over remarks made by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun concerning Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

The controversy stems from Aoun’s recent interview with Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, where he rejected the idea of integrating Hezbollah into the Lebanese army using Iraq’s PMF model. The Iraqi government interpreted the comments as a dismissal of PMF’s legitimacy, prompting a swift response.

“Iraq rejects the use of official Iraqi institutions as comparative models in foreign internal debates,” said Mohammed Bahr AlUloom, Iraq’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations, in a strongly worded statement released Wednesday, and reported by Xinhua news agency.

AlUloom stressed that the PMF, which was established in 2014 to fight Islamic State militants, is a legitimate and government-recognised component of the Iraqi military security apparatus. “It is a state-sanctioned body that operates under the command of the Prime Minister, and it plays a vital role in safeguarding Iraq’s sovereignty,” he said.

The Deputy Minister also urged Lebanese leadership to refrain from drawing Iraq into Lebanon’s internal affairs. “It would have been more appropriate not to involve Iraq in Lebanon’s domestic political complexities,” he remarked, expressing hope that President Aoun would reconsider and clarify his statement to reinforce mutual respect and the historic fraternal ties between the two nations.

Ambassador al-Habhab, for his part, reiterated Lebanon’s deep-rooted relationship with Iraq, assuring that Baghdad’s concerns would be communicated directly to President Aoun. He pledged to work towards de-escalation, reaffirming Lebanon’s appreciation for Iraq’s consistent support in times of crisis.

The PMF was formally incorporated into Iraq’s official security forces following the passage of a law in 2016. While some outside Iraq continue to view the PMF with scepticism due to its Iranian backing and autonomous military role, Baghdad has consistently defended the force’s legitimacy and role in national defense.

Adding his voice to the ongoing diplomatic stir, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al-Sudani recently described the PMF as “a vital institution and an integral part of Iraq's security system” during a public address in Sulaymaniyah.

Notably, Iraq has extended considerable aid to Lebanon in recent years, including fuel shipments during the country's energy crisis and sheltering thousands of displaced Lebanese during wartime.

The incident underscores the sensitivity surrounding regional security models and the fine line leaders must tread in public discourse amid complex Middle Eastern alliances.