U.S. General Petraeus says Shiite militias pose 'foremost threat' to Iraq's stability, not IS

U.S. General David H. Petraeus, who commanded the nation's troops in Iraq during the 2007-2008 surge, has reportedly gone on record to say that the foremost threat to Iraq's long-term stability and the broader regional equilibrium is not the Islamic State (IS) but Shiite militias, "many backed by and some guided by Iran."

Petraeus noted that the Shia militias took to the streets in response to a fatwa by Shia leader Grand Ayatollah Sistani at a moment of extreme danger and prevented the IS militants from advancing further into Baghdad. However, they not only cleared Sunni extremists but also Sunni civilians and committed atrocities against them, reported The Washington Post.

Therefore, he added, Shia militias have although been part of Iraq's salvation but they also pose the most serious threat to the "all-important effort of once again getting the Sunni Arab population in Iraq to feel that it has a stake in the success of Iraq rather than a stake in its failure."

Petraeus warned that in the longer term, Iranian-backed Shia militia may emerge as "the preeminent power in the country," one that is outside the control of the government and instead answerable to Tehran.