After Aoun's Remarks on the “PMF” Angered Baghdad… Lebanon and Iraq Emphasize “Strong Brotherly Ties”

Al-Sabah Al-Jadeed – Follow-up:Lebanese Army Commander General Joseph Aoun and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ Al-Sudani emphasized the "strength of brotherly relations" between Lebanon and Iraq during a phone call on Thursday, following Baghdad’s anger over Aoun’s comments on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF).According to a statement from the Lebanese presidency, both leaders affirmed the "deep-rooted and longstanding brotherly ties between Lebanon and Iraq, based on mutual respect for each country’s sovereignty."They also expressed a “shared desire to strengthen and develop these relations in all fields, away from anything that may affect their depth.”Baghdad had expressed displeasure on Wednesday over statements made by Aoun during a press interview on Tuesday, where he said that Lebanon would not replicate Iraq’s PMF model to integrate Hezbollah into the Lebanese Army. He stressed that Hezbollah would not become a separate unit within the army, although its members could join the military and undergo integration training.On Wednesday, Iraqi Deputy Foreign Minister for Bilateral Relations, Mohammed Bahr Al-Uloom, summoned Lebanese Ambassador Ali Habhab to express Iraq's displeasure over the comments.Bahr Al-Uloom stated that “the link made by the Lebanese president was inappropriate... and caused discomfort among Iraqis, especially given Iraq’s consistent support for Lebanon in times of hardship.”The Lebanese ambassador affirmed the “depth of the brotherly relations between Lebanon and Iraq” and pledged to convey the Iraqi Foreign Ministry’s concerns to President Aoun, promising to “rectify the situation in a way that preserves and develops bilateral relations,” according to the ministry's statement.