Faleh Al Fayadh is the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) Chairman and former National Security Advisor to the Prime Minister. Although the PMF was initially established to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), many PMF militias are increasingly focused on advancing their own economic interests and supporting Iran’s regional agenda in Iraq, rather than protecting the Iraqi state or its citizens.  Al Fayadh was part of a crisis cell composed primarily of PMF militia leaders formed in late 2019 to suppress the Iraqi “Tishreen Movement” peaceful protests with the support of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF).

Iran-backed militias of the PMF continue to wage an assassination campaign against political activists in Iraq peacefully calling for free and fair elections, respect for human rights, and transparent government without corruption. The campaign to repress the peaceful demonstrations has resulted in over 600 killed, over 25,000 injured and over 7,000 forcibly disappeared Iraqi civilians.