Iraqi Police Clash with PMF Fighters After Government Building Stormed in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, July 27: A deadly gunbattle broke out in Iraq’s capital on Sunday between police forces and members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) after fighters stormed a government building, killing at least one police officer and wounding several others, authorities said.

According to the Interior Ministry, the clash erupted in Baghdad’s Karkh district when PMF fighters raided the Agriculture Ministry building during the swearing-in of a new director. Panic ensued among ministry staff, who alerted police.

The PMF—known in Arabic as Hashd Al-Shaabi—is an umbrella organization of mostly Shiite paramilitary groups officially incorporated into Iraq’s state security forces, with several factions aligned with Iran.

Security officials and witnesses at the scene said the fighters entered the building to prevent the replacement of the former director.

The Joint Operations Command, which reports to Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, confirmed the arrest of 14 PMF fighters involved in the incident. They have been referred to the judiciary for legal action.

At least one police officer was killed, and nine others were injured in the exchange of gunfire, according to police and hospital sources.

Sudani has ordered the formation of an investigative committee to examine the circumstances of the attack, the command said.

The arrested fighters reportedly belong to PMF brigades 45 and 46, both affiliated with Kataib Hezbollah, an Iran-aligned Iraqi armed faction, Iraqi security officials confirmed.

The incident underscores rising tensions between Iraqi state security forces and powerful paramilitary groups operating under the PMF umbrella.