ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - A proposed law to reinstate mandatory military service in Iraq is deepening political divisions, with supporters arguing it would strengthen national defense and opponents saying existing forces are already sufficient.
Last week, Iraqi parliament Speaker Haibat al-Halbousi voiced support for the draft National Service Act, describing the return of conscription as “a crucial security and social necessity” for the country.
Opponents, however, argue Iraq’s current security forces are large enough.
“We are in support of anyone who serves the country, but not through militarization [conscription]. The army is present, the police are present, and there are [sufficient] numbers. The Hashd al-Shaabi [PMF] is present. The numbers are sufficient to serve the country,” Dhuha al-Sadkhan, spokesperson for the National al-Nahj Alliance, told Rudaw.
Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and the Kurdistan Region’s Peshmerga are each estimated at around 150,000 personnel, while the Iraqi Army has about 190,000 active troops.
The bill has split Sunni and Shiite parties into opposing camps. Shiite factions have strongly opposed the proposal and are seeking to block it by gathering signatures in parliament.
The legislation also applies to the Kurdistan Region, though Kurdish parties have yet to take a formal position.
“Of course, a serious and detailed discussion will be conducted by all parliament members, then we, as the Kurdistani blocs, will hold our own meeting on it and give our opinion on it,” said Diyar Mufti, a member of parliament’s Security and Defense Committee.
Under the proposed law, eligible individuals who fail to complete service would face penalties, including fines and imprisonment. The duration of service would range from three to 18 months, depending on education level, and travel could be restricted for Iraqis aged 19 to 45 who have not completed their service.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Wednesday that there’s no need for mandatory conscription, describing the bill as “an outdated idea.” He added that modern wars no longer rely on “abundance of soldiers,” but rather on drones and advanced technologies.
Maliki also stated that “including large numbers of troops will cost the state exorbitant sums without any actual need, “ and that the priority should be “directing these resources to develop the efficiency of the army and build an effective force with fewer numbers.”
The proposal has also sparked differing views among the public.
“Deep research must be done on it until it becomes clear what the benefits and harms are. I think this needs research,” said Kazem Shamout, a university professor.
Fawzi Abdulkarim, a retiree, said, “military service makes men; this automatically dismantles the militias.”
"Unfortunately, society is being militarized. When society becomes militaristic, professionals and other professions are not respected; it just becomes war and killing,” said Mohammed Ali, a university graduate.
Mandatory conscription was a central feature of Iraq’s state for decades before it was abolished in May 2003 following the US invasion of the country. At the time, Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, issued Order Number 2, formally dissolving the Iraqi armed forces and ending the draft. Since then, Iraq has relied on an all-volunteer military alongside various paramilitary forces.
Efforts to reintroduce conscription have repeatedly failed. In November 2022, a draft law was introduced but quickly shelved due to public backlash and a lack of political consensus. Critics cited concerns over financial costs and its broader social impact.
Calls to revive the draft have gained momentum following the outbreak of the US-Israel-Iran war in late February, during which Iraq was caught in the crossfire of missile exchanges and retaliatory strikes.
In this context, some Iraqi politicians argue that reinstating mandatory service could expand the armed forces and bolster the country’s defense capabilities.