Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) evolved from a 2014 call by Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani to fight ISIS into a state-backed umbrella of over three dozen militias. After ISIS's defeat, factions refused to disarm, demanding US withdrawal. Following the US troop exit on September 30, the PMF now boasts 240,000 fighters and a $3.4 billion annual budget.
Iraq's PMF: From Anti-IS Force to Powerful Militia Bloc
Source: The Hindu