US continues Iraqi Abrams support, despite Iranian militia use
US support for Iraq’s fleet of M1 Abrams tanks is continuing despite acknowledgement from the US government that the vehicles have been deployed and used by an Iranian-backed militia.
Recent reports in Iraqi media outlets suggested that the US had suspended its maintainence support for the tanks at the end of 2017 after some were found in the hands of a militia known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF).
A State Department official confirmed to Shephard that the US is continuing to help maintain the Iraq Security Forces’ (ISF) fleet of 140 Abrams, but acknowledged the influence of Iran and
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