What is the PMF, that said it was targeted by US-Saudi strikes?

The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iran-linked group that claims it was targeted by U.S.-Saudi airstrikes, is a significant component of Iraq's security apparatus. Formed in 2014 to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), the PMF operates as an umbrella organization for various Shiite paramilitary groups.

Initially called for by the Iraqi government to mobilize volunteers and existing militias against ISIS's advance, the PMF played a crucial role in retaking Iraqi territory. It was formally incorporated into the state security forces in 2016, solidifying its position within the country's defense structure.

However, the group's influence has become increasingly intertwined with Iran's regional agenda. Several powerful militias within the PMF have strong connections to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, forming part of Tehran's "Axis of Resistance" alongside groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis. These Tehran-backed factions have frequently engaged in attacks targeting U.S. interests and allied forces across the Middle East.