US: Coalition not supporting Shia militias in Iraq

The US-led coalition does not support the Shia component of the Popular Mobilisation Force (PMF) and had not seen them as a part of formations being supported by the coalition in retaking Mosul, a US military official told reporters in Washington today.

“As far as the Shia PMF, the coalition only supports those elements that are under the direct command and control of the Iraqi security forces, and the Shia PMF are not,” Major General Gary Volesky, the commander of US-led coalition ground forces in the fight against Daesh, said. “So we don’t support them.”

Iraqi forces, supported by a US-led coalition, began an offensive to retake its northern capital from Daesh late on Sunday night. The government has said that only its army would enter the city, following fear from rights organisations that there would be human rights violations carried out by Shia militias as occurred in Fallujah. However, Shia militias today said they would partake in the battle for Mosul.