Iraqi militia leaders in Moscow 'to request weapons'

The delegation arrived in the capital of the Russian Federation on Thursday carrying a message from prime minister Haider al-Abadi, but the sources said discussions likely focused on Russian military assistance to the militias as battles against the Islamic State [IS] expand in northern Iraq.

A statement from the office of Faleh al-Fayyad, PMU leader and National Security Advisor, later on Friday confirmed the delegation took a message from Abadi to Russian President Putin, before holding talks with officials and military leaders in Moscow "focusing on developing bilateral relations especially with regard to counter-terrorism."

But the delegation was primarily there to discuss alleged sharp shortages in the PMU's ammunition and armaments, and request Russia's assistance in this regard, sources in the Iraqi Foreign Ministry told The New Arab's sister publication.

It is not clear whether Russia will approve the PMU's alleged request for weapons.

A significant proportion of the PMU's equipment is Russian-made, sourced from the Iraqi army and Iran, according to reports.

The militias are particularly in need of small arms and assault rifles, machine guns, mortar guns and rocket-propelled grenades, the sources claimed.

It is not clear whether Russia will approve the PMU's alleged request for weapons.

This the second foreign visit by a PMU delegation since visiting Iran, after Iraq's parliament gave an official capacity to the militias. The visit to Iran is though to have had a similar purpose.

The PMU have fought alongside Iraqi government forces in the campaign to push back IS. However, as protests increased over their alleged human rights abuses and sectarian make-up, they have been given a more auxiliary role in the Mosul campaign.