Popular Mobilization Forces reverse Samarra command change, reinstate El-Akayli

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) reversed an earlier appointment and reinstated Ali El-Akayli as commander of operations in Samarra, reversing a change made hours earlier. The decision came after Youssef Mezban had been moved to the post; Mezban remains commander of the PMF's 36th Brigade. Under the reversal, El-Akayli was also tasked with restructuring the former Salam Brigades under the PMF umbrella and resolving their liaison arrangements. The order was issued directly by Prime Minister Ali Zaidi, according to the organization, with the stated aim of preserving security stability in Samarra and avoiding friction during the ongoing restructuring process. PMF chief Faleh Al-Fayadh had previously appointed El-Akayli as an adviser to the General Directorate of Operations, granting him authority over the reorganization of the 313th, 314th and 315th brigades. The latest decision returns El-Akayli to the forefront of the security file in Samarra, where rapid adjustments continue to integrate Salam Brigades-affiliated units into the PMF's administrative and security framework. No further details on the timeline for the restructuring were immediately available.