On the afternoon of 23 August, Al-Ahad TV (AAH — official) carried remarks by political analyst Muhammad al-Husseini stating that PMF chairman Falih al-Fayyadh's non-attendance at parliament indicated he possessed information about an "aggression" against Popular Mobilization Forces facilities and failed to report it, and calling laxity over "the Saudi-American aggression against Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters" dangerous. The same list of remarks stated that the PMF is a formal state institution and that periodic change in security-service leaderships is not political or personal targeting. The alleged attack itself is not described — no site, date or damage is given — and no other collected channel in this window mentions it.
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official23 Aug, 18:45
“Laxity over the file of the Saudi-American aggression against Popular Mobilization Forces headquarters is dangerous... Fayyadh's absence from parliament is an indication that he possessed information about an aggression on the Hashd headquarters and did not report it... The Popular Mobilization Forces Commission is a formal state institution and making changes in it is a natural matter.”
التهاون في ملف العدوان السعودي الأميركي على مقرات الحشد الشعبي أمر خطير... عدم حضور الفياض للبرلمان مؤشر على امتلاكه معلومة حول وجود عدوان على مقرات الحشد ولم يبلغ بها... هيئة الحشد الشعبي مؤسسة رسمية وإحداث تغييرات فيها أمر طبيعي
- Al-Ahad TVAAH — official23 Aug, 18:55
“Fayyadh's absence from parliament shows there is a clear dereliction in failing to report the existence of an aggression against the Hashd headquarters.”
عدم حضور الفياض للبرلمان يظهر أن هناك تقصيرا واضحا في عدم التبليغ بوجود عدوان على مقرات الحشد
An AAH-owned channel is putting the chairman of a formal Iraqi security institution in the frame for concealing an attack while pre-emptively legitimising his replacement, which is a route to a leadership change accomplished through parliament rather than through a faction statement.