Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi issued a decree ordering the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to integrate into the regular armed forces.
Abdul-Mahdi also ordered PMF headquarters and checkpoints manned by the paramilitary group to be shut down.
According to the decree those who choose to integrate into the military must cut ties to political groups.
“Those who choose politics will not be allowed to carry weapons,” the decree said.
The PM set July 31 as a deadline for PMF groups to abide by the new decree, indicating that “those that do not will be considered outlaws.”
The PMF was formed in mid-2014 after the Islamic State (IS) group swept through large swathes of territories.
