Iraq summons Lebanese ambassador over Aoun’s remarks on Popular Mobilisation.

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry summoned Lebanese Ambassador to Baghdad, Ali Habbab, to express the country’s “discomfort with the statements” made by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to Qatari media, in which he addressed the role of Iraq’s Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).

Iraqi Deputy Minister for Bilateral Relations, Ambassador Mohammed Bahr Al-Uloom, stated: “Popular Mobilization is an important part of Iraq’s military-security apparatus. It is a legal government institution and part of the Iraqi state structure.” He added, “The Lebanese President’s comments in this context were inappropriate.”

According to Al-Akhbar sources, Lebanese General Security Director Hassan Shaqer contacted Iraqi officials to clarify President Aoun’s remarks, assuring them that “no offense to Iraq was intended.” Informed sources added that these communications “helped ease tensions and are expected to lead to direct talks between the Lebanese and Iraqi presidents to clear up the misunderstanding”—particularly after “media campaigns in Iraq portrayed the comments as an insult from a country that receives Iraqi support without giving anything in return.”

Al Akhbar on Telegram Channel