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The Iraqi Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) have denied forming an independent Air Force Directorate as many sources have claimed.
“There is no truth to what was circulated by some media outlets regarding a decision to form a command for the PMU’s Air Force,” a source in the PMU said late on September 6.
A day earlier, Iraqi sources leaked an alleged order by the PMU deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis appointing Salah Mahdi Hantoush as a commander for the supposed Air Force Directorate.
The alleged order was linked to the recent airstrikes on the PMU’s bases and personal throughout Iraq. Many observers in Iraq regarded the alleged order as a response to these attacks.
The PMU had held Israel and U.S. forces in Iraq responsible for these attacks, vowing to response to any new airstrike. However, the Iranian-backed coalition has not taken any step to implement its promise, so far.
