Pro-iranian Shiite militias attached to Iraqi army
The Baghdad parliament’s decision Saturday to attach the Hashid al-Shaabi conglomerate of pro-Iranian militias to the Iraqi army will have four consequences, DEBKAfile reports:
1. Further disintegration of central authority in Baghdad. Since those militias are under the direct command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, Tehran is effectively taking over the Iraqi army.
2. An end to the Obama administration’s efforts to build a national, unified Iraqi army to fight ISIS.
3. A step back from the offensive to liberate Mosul launched by Washington five weeks ago.
4. The Sunni Muslims and Kurds living in Mosul will never accept their town’s occupation by Shiite militias under Iranian command.