Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi to move offices outside cities

By Naza Mohamed

BAGHDAD (AA) - A commander of Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi on Friday announced plans to relocate most of the group’s offices outside the country’s main cities.

“We are planning to move our main offices outside the cities, including Baghdad,” Karim al-Nuri, commander of the Badr Brigade (a component of the Hashd al-Shaabi), told Anadolu Agency on Friday.

Al-Nuri attributed the move to the fact that several “fake” Hashd al-Shaabi offices -- in which criminals were impersonating Hashd officers -- were found to be running extortion rackets targeting local merchants and residents.

“So far, more than 10 fake Hashd offices have been shut and there are plans to close dozens more,” he said.

A largely Shia fighting force, Iraq’s Hashd al-Shaabi was established in 2014 to fight the Daesh terrorist group.

In 2017, the group was formally incorporated into the Iraqi armed forces.