ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi has ordered the dismissal of four officers and an investigation into their “negligence” in allowing members of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to desecrate the United States flag during celebrations marking the day American forces withdrew from Iraq.

The US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS) completed its withdrawal from Iraq on September 30, which the country dubbed “Sovereignty Day.” As people celebrated, footage showed US and Israeli flags placed on the road as vehicles, including military jeeps, drove over them.

A document sent to the Iraqi interior ministry dated October 21 showed the premier requested an investigation into a number of officers for “negligence and dereliction of duty in allowing members of the Popular Mobilization Forces to insult the flag of the United States of America during the Sovereignty Day parade.”

The officers involved included two brigadier generals, a Baghdad police colonel, and a lieutenant colonel, whom the premier directed to be dismissed "for failing to monitor their sectors and for proven dereliction of duty."

“We request that you take the necessary action upon receiving our letter and inform us,” it added, calling it “an act that harms international relations.”

In early October, Iraqi security forces arrested those involved in desecrating the US flag, Sabah al-Numan, spokesperson for the prime minister, said.

The PMF is an Iraqi state-integrated network of predominantly Shiite armed groups established in 2014 to fight the Islamic State. While formally part of Iraq's security apparatus, several factions maintain close ties to Iran.

Baghdad has renewed efforts to restructure the PMF, consolidate weapons under state control, and reduce the influence of Iran-backed factions within the security framework.

In late July, US and Saudi forces launched coordinated attacks on PMF bases across several Iraqi provinces, killing at least 20 PMF members, in response to alleged attacks on Saudi oil facilities in the preceding days at the behest of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Zaidi has sought to maintain positive relations with Washington since assuming the premiership, having been personally endorsed by US President Donald Trump and expressing Iraq's keeness to attract US investment.