The head of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), Faleh al-Fayyad, confirmed on Thursday that the PMF law will be enacted soon, noting that the Cabinet has approved the law, and it is now under review in Parliament.

Speaking at a ceremony honoring military college officers, Faleh al-Fayyad said the new law marks a fresh step in restructuring the Popular Mobilization Forces, adding that it will place the PMF on the right path and in the proper position within the military establishment.

He added that the draft law currently before Parliament includes the establishment of a PMF academy, which will feature military and technical colleges, as well as departments for command, staff, and humanities. “We are entering a new phase in the history of the PMF,” he said, “one focused on building it as an institution.”

Speaking about the achievements of the Popular Mobilization Forces, al-Fayyad said the PMF has made significant strides alongside other military sectors and the Peshmerga in defending the country, adding that it was at the forefront during the war in which they achieved victory over ISIS.

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Describing the Popular Mobilization Forces, al-Fayyad called it “the sword of justice,” in contrast to the arrogant force that destroys and kills, like the actions of the Zionist entity in Palestine, Lebanon, and Syria, adding that one of the defining traits of the PMF is that its leaders are also its martyrs

He added that the martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis was the architect of the PMF and gave his life in defense of Iraq, while also referencing the late commander of Iran’s Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, saying he was a true supporter of Iraq who gave to the PMF and infused it with his spirit.

He emphasized that enemies have tried to portray the PMF as a force opposed to the Iraqi Armed Forces, which he said is untrue, stressing that the PMF is an official force operating under the command of the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces.

In his message to the officers, he said, “You are now the link between the PMF, the army, and the rest of the armed forces, and that’s incredibly important,” adding, “Iraq needs people who can defend it and help keep it on the path to recovery."

"The common ground is the homeland, defending sacred sites, and upholding the law," he concluded.