Hashd al-Shaabi leader reinstated as head of Iraq's NSC

By Haydar Karaalp

BAGHDAD

Iraq’s Supreme Court on Monday reinstated Falih Alfayyadh, the dismissed head of Iraq’s National Security Council (NSC) and current leader of the Shia Hashd al-Shaabi military force.

Alfayyadh was relieved of his post in early August by Prime Minister Hayder al-Abadi for alleged “malfeasance”.

But according to the Supreme Court’s Monday decision, Alfayyadh’s abrupt dismissal by the PM this summer had “failed to comply with Iraq’s constitution”.

A largely Shia fighting force, the Hashd al-Shaabi was established in 2014 to fight the Daesh terrorist group, which overran much of Iraq earlier the same year.

In 2017, the Hashd al-Shaabi was formally incorporated into the Iraqi armed forces.

Along with leading the Hashd al-Shaabi and heading up Iraq’s NSC, Alfayyadh also leads the Ataa Movement, which was founded on the eve of Iraq’s May 12 parliamentary poll.