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Government and security officials and armed factions announced that the Iraqi army is training a former commander of the Iranian-backed armed factions, who is subject to US sanctions on charges of killing protesters, to become a senior army officer.
They said that Hussein Faleh Aziz, known as Abu Zainab al-Lami, was sent abroad with Iraqi officers to receive a year-long training for military personnel..
A Defense Ministry document reviewed by Reuters showed his name and rank of major general on the list of officers who will attend training until next summer..
Officials said turning al-Lami into a senior army officer represents by far one of the boldest moves by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazimi, a US ally, to curb the influence of armed factions backed by Iran in Iraq, and it is in line with Washington’s stated desire to limit Tehran’s influence in the Middle East..
Supporters see the plan as a way to weaken the armed factions, which include tens of thousands of fighters, and have great influence over Iraq’s security and economy..
They also say this will accelerate the disintegration of some groups in the Popular Mobilization Forces, a state paramilitary organization, whose security branch has been led by Al-Lami for years..
An Iraqi official, speaking on behalf of the government, declined to comment on al-Lami’s order, but said there was a plan to restructure the PMF, including the provision of military training for its leaders..
But some critics see it as a risky move, questioning a person whose human rights record was close to Iran at the heart of the Iraqi military..
They also see this as another sign that the prime minister is making concessions to even some of the hard-line officials allied with Iran to ensure support for his government..
A security official said: “The plan is based on attracting leaders in the Hashd, who are seen as totally disloyal to Iran, to prepare them by entering this military session to receive positions within the military and security services.”“.
“Al-Lami will be awarded a prominent position after his military session ends,” added the official, who asked not to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter. But he did not specify the position that Al-Lami would assume.
