Interview on the Role of Iraqi Pro-Iranian Militias (PMF) in the Current Conflict

Date of publication: May 6, 2026

On May 2, 2026, Filip Sommer, Director of the Prague Center for Middle East Relations (PCMR) at CEVRO University, commented on the current situation in Iraq, particularly the role of Iraqi pro-Iranian militias operating under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), both within the Iraqi state itself and in the ongoing conflict between the United States–Israel and Iran.

In an interview for INFO.cz, he describes how the country has gradually become a battlefield it did not choose for itself, and how the pro-Iranian PMF militias play a crucial role through their strong influence over both the parliament and the functioning of the state, while drawing funding from both the Iraqi state budget and Tehran. He also explains how Iran’s proxy network operates, why the Iraqi government is unable to effectively curb it, and what implications this has for regional stability and relations with the United States.

You can listen to the full interview here.