Iraq Summons Lebanese Ambassador Amid Tensions Over Aoun's PMF Remarks

Diplomatic tensions have arisen between Iraq and Lebanon after Lebanese President Joseph Aoun publicly rejected the idea of integrating Hezbollah into Lebanon's armed forces using a model similar to Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Aoun emphasized that while individual Hezbollah members could join the military through official channels, the group would not be allowed to operate independently, and all arms must remain under state control. Iraq's Foreign Ministry responded by summoning the Lebanese ambassador to express its dissatisfaction, with Iraqi lawmakers and officials criticizing Aoun's comments as inappropriate and disrespectful toward an official Iraqi institution. The incident has underscored sensitive regional dynamics, especially as Lebanon prepares for direct dialogue with Hezbollah and Iraq readies to host an upcoming Arab League summit. Both countries are now seeking to ease diplomatic frictions through indirect channels and potential direct talks between their presidents. The episode highlights the ongoing challenges of managing armed factions and state authority in the Middle East.