Iraq’s militias: Mosul’s church bells will ring again

Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMF) have promised  that Mosul’s churches will be liberated from ISIS forces and its church bells will ring again. The PMF compromise of 40 Shi’ite militias as well as Sunni, Christian and Yazidi groups and were formed to fight against ISIS after the failure of the Iraqi Armed Forces to defend the country from the terrorist group.

On April 6, 2015 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that, while being heavily involved in the conquest of Tikrit, the PMF will not join the planned liberation of Mosul. On 10 June ISIS captured Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city. The Iraqi army had 30,000 soldiers stationed in the city, facing 1,500 militants but eventually capitulated and withdrew from the city.