\n Shia-aligned blocs are among the primary opponents, contending that compulsory conscription could weaken existing paramilitary and security forces and alter Iraq’s security balance. [Getty]<\/p>\n
Kurds have expressed cautious support for\u00a0Iraq’s conscription bill<\/a>. Some perceive it as an economic opportunity for youth, while others caution that it may intensify political and sectarian competition within security institutions.<\/p>\n Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi recently expressed support for reintroducing compulsory military service, citing security and social needs. The proposal follows consultations with military leaders and political blocs; however, its passage remains uncertain due to ongoing divisions.<\/p>\n In the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, responses remain mixed, influenced by historical grievances and current economic pressures.<\/p>\n “Military service is a good discipline all over the world, but the former Ba’ath regime had made military service equivalent to death [because of wars with Iran and Kuwait and using the army to curb internal uprisings],” Omar Kasan, a Kurdish citizen from Sulaymaniyah, told\u00a0The New Arab. “I think the compulsory conscription might be an effort to marginalise Iraq’s <\/a>Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).”<\/p>\n He further noted that, despite political concerns, conscription could provide economic benefits in the Kurdistan Region. “There are high unemployment rates among the youth. Compulsory military service would provide salaries for thousands of young people. I hope that if it becomes law, it includes all Iraq and is not monopolised by political parties.”<\/p>\n Another Kurdish resident, who requested anonymity, told\u00a0TNA\u00a0that regional power dynamics could influence the proposal. “As long as Iran’s influence remains strong in Iraq, Tehran would never allow the draft law to be green-lighted, especially as Shia blocs have a majority in parliament,” he said.<\/p>\n Jabbar Shali, a Kurdish artist, speaking to\u00a0TNA, observed that historical memory continues to shape Kurdish attitudes toward the Iraqi army, referencing past campaigns such as the\u00a0Anfal genocide<\/a>\u00a0and the 1988 chemical attack on Halabja.<\/p>\n He further suggested that the proposal may be connected to internal power dynamics within Iraq’s security sector. “The purpose of the draft law is to weaken the PMF,” he said. “If it becomes law, it could be a positive thing, especially as the PMF has recently launched drone attacks against the Kurdistan Region, while the Iraqi army has not done so.”<\/p>\n Outside the Kurdistan Region, political debate regarding the proposal remains sharply divided.<\/p>\n Karim Abu Suda, deputy head of parliament\u2019s security and defence committee, told\u00a0TNA\u00a0that the draft has been prepared for some time but has faced repeated delays due to political disputes. He stated that it offers benefits, including addressing unemployment and reducing sectarian divisions through national service.<\/p>\n “The draft law is ready-made,” he said. “It would help end unemployment and sectarianism, as it brings all components together to serve the country.”<\/p>\n Shia-aligned blocs are among the primary opponents, contending that compulsory conscription could weaken existing paramilitary and security forces and alter Iraq’s security balance.<\/p>\n Former defence minister and current MP Khalid al-Obeidi\u00a0stated<\/a>\u00a0in a post on the X social media platform that compulsory military conscription would provide military, economic, and social benefits, such as expanding the army\u2019s trained workforce and improving readiness.<\/p>\n He explained that it would provide recruits for the armed forces, help organise youth for the labour market, and reinforce discipline and national unity by bringing together recruits from across Iraq<\/a>.<\/p>\n Parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi has also endorsed the proposal, describing it as a “security and social necessity.” His office stated that the initiative followed consultations with parliamentary blocs and lawmakers and was intended to ensure the legislation advances in accordance with public interest and national security requirements.<\/p>\n The debate reflects Iraq’s <\/a>ongoing struggle to define the role of its armed forces more than two decades after the 2003 US-led invasion, which resulted in the dissolution of the army under the Coalition Provisional Authority led by Paul Bremer and the abolition of conscription.<\/p>\n