| Summary/Abstract |
Following the May 12, 2018, parliamentary elections in Iraq, the lists of two prominent militia heads have emerged victorious. The Saairoon Alliance came in first, with 54 of the 329 seats, while the Fatah Alliance took second, with 47. Muqtada as‐Sadr, the Shia cleric and leader of the militia Saraya as‐Salam, and Hadi al‐Amiri, commander of the Badr Organization, head Saairoon and Fatah, respectively.1 These results reflect the widespread support the militias of al‐Hashd ash‐Shaabi, the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs), have accumulated in their efforts against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organization. Some PMUs want to assist the military in restoring the government's full control over Iraqi territory and even be incorporated into the military and police. Others receive support from Iran and openly proclaim loyalty to its supreme leader.
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