Private militias in Iraq

The term militia in contemporary Iraq refers to armed groups that fight on behalf of or as part of the Iraqi government, the Mahdi Army and Badr Organization being two of the biggest. Many predate the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, but some have emerged since, such as the Facilities Protection Service. The U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 undermined the internal order in the country and brought about, among other things, the establishment of several pro-Iranian militias affiliated with the IRGC's Quds Force. The militias were set up with the purpose of driving the U.S. forces out of Iraq and establishing Iranian involvement in the country. Prominent among the militias are Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Hezbollah and Harakat al-Nujaba.[1]

Since the 2014 collapse of the Iraqi army in the North of Iraq against the Al-Qaeda, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, and the fatwa by the Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani calling for jihad or hashad shaabi ("popular mobilization")[2] against ISIL, militias have become even more prominent in Iraq.[3]

Sustenance

According to Eric Davis, professor of Middle East politics at Rutgers University, "They get some salary, they get a rifle, they get a uniform, they get the idea of belonging, protection from a group." However, he also notes that "People in [Mahdi Army] only get sporadic incomes. It's also very dangerous. You might be fighting another militia, such as the Badr organization, or worse the American army or the Iraqi army."[4] It is stated that Iran is backing the militias.[5]

The militias have also received American weapons, which were handed over to them from the Iraqi government.[6]

List of militias

Iraqi government

Nouri al-Maliki asked political parties to dismantle their militias on 5 October 2006.[16] He also stressed that militias are "part of the government", that there is a "political solution", and finally that they should "dissolve themselves" because "force would not work."[17] He blamed the sectarian violence on "al Qaeda in Iraq".[17] He has also condemned "Saddam Hussein loyalists".[18] Lindsey Graham has said, "You are not going to have a political solution [in Iraq] with this much violence."[19] This has led to growing concerns about al-Maliki's unwillingness to eliminate Shia militias.[20] The Mahdi Army, a group linked to Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, is held responsible for "execution-style killings" of 11 Iraqi troops in August 2006.[21] Some U.S. officials posit that the militias are a more serious threat to Iraq's stability than the Sunni insurgency.[22] Additionally, U.S.-led coalition troops have been "told hands off Sadr City because Maliki is dependent upon Sadr, the Mahdi Army."[23] However, in late January, Maliki reversed his decision .

SCIRI refused to acknowledge own militia, the Badr Organization.[16]

Views

Support

Due to the collapse of some segments of the Iraqi Army under the Islamic State offensive, the activity of the militias fighting the group is largely supported by the Shia majority in the country, and many among the Sunni minority.[24][25]

Criticism

According to former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad, "the existence of private militias" has loomed as "a persistent problem."[26]

Brett H. McGurk, Director for Iraq, from the National Security Council has stated, "The Iraqi constitution makes clear that militias are illegal and the new government platform pledges to demobilize militias as one of its principal goals....[The] private militias...purport to enforce religious law through illegal courts. "[27]

U.S. Senator Dennis Falcone has said, "Sectarian violence between Shiites and Sunnis is being fueled by the private militias, is now the biggest threat to stability."[28] Moreover, U.S. Senator John Warner has urged the White House to prod Nouri al-Maliki to empower the Iraqi army to subdue the militias and stated, "It is their job, not the U.S. coalition forces' to subdue and get rid of these private militias".[29]

According to Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International's senior crisis response adviser, as of late 2014, "The crimes being committed by Shia militias throughout Iraq amount to war crimes. These are not one-off cases. They are systematic and widespread." These crimes target the Sunni population,[30] including ethnic cleansing in Sunni areas,[6] particularly around the Baghdad Belts and Diyala Governorate.[31]

American official, Ali Khedery, has been scathing of United States involvement with the militias, stating: "The United States is now acting as the air force, the armory, and the diplomatic cover for Iraqi militias that are committing some of the worst human rights abuses on the planet. These are "allies" that are actually beholden to our strategic foe, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and which often resort to the same vile tactics as the Islamic State itself."[32]

According to The Economist, "the militias Iran is sponsoring are in some ways the Shia mirror-image of the Sunni jihadists of Islamic State (IS)."[33]

See also

References and notes
  1. "The Pro-Iranian militias in Iraq – the current situation". The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 2022-11-15.
  2. According to another source "Hashed al-Sha'abi" is the name for "the coalition of militias which are now doing most of the fighting against Isil outside Kurdish areas" (source: "The Americans Cannot Save Ramadi, Says Leader of Iraq's Most Powerful Shia Militia". Daily Telegraph. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.)
  3. Pelham, Nicolas (June 4, 2015). "ISIS & the Shia Revival in Iraq". New York Review of Books.
  4. "Luring away from militias". Archived from the original on 2014-01-15. Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  5. Kuwaiti MP Dr. Walid Al-Tabtabai: I Don't Think It Is True that the Iranian Nuclear Project Is for Energy Purposes
  6. Josh Rogin; Eli Lake (8 Jan 2015). "Iran-Backed Militias Are Getting U.S. Weapons". Bloomberg. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  7. "Iran's new strategy: Iraqi ghost militias? | Opinion". Daily Sabah. 17 April 2020.
  8. "US military convoy comes under attack in Iraq – Video – Alghadeer TV". Archived from the original on 2020-07-12. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  9. "Who Changed the Rules?". 5 December 2014.
  10. "Kata'ib al-Ghadab: An Armed Wing of the Islamic Da'wah Party (Tanẓim al-Dakhil)".
  11. "Profile: Qasem al-Jabbarin".
  12. "Shi'a Militant Unit "Revenge of al-Muhandis Brigade" Claims Bombing U.S. Logistical Support Convoy in al-Muthanna". 30 November 2021.
  13. "Shi'a Militant Unit "Khaybar Brigade" Claims Bombing on U.S. Logistical Support Convoy in Diwaniya, Provides Video Documentation". 16 December 2021.
  14. "Iraq-based Sabiqun Battalion Claims Attack on U.S. Logistical Support Convoy in Anbar". 21 December 2021.
  15. @Rita_Katz (27 December 2021). "Shi'a militant units claim separate strikes on US support convoys in Iraq:-Revenge of al-Muhandis Brigade claims…" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  16. Iraq political groups warned on militias AP via Yahoo! News 5 October 2006 (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)
  17. Rice Urges Greater Effort to Stem Violence in Surprise Baghdad Visit Voice of America 5 October 2006
  18. Dozens Killed in Baghdad Bombing
  19. http://www.voanews.com/english/2006-12-24-voa14.cfm
  20. Iraq plan 'fails to impress': US concerns BBC News 3 October 2006
  21. U.S. Coalition Kills 30 Shiite Fighters AP 8 October 2006
  22. Revenge attacks grip town north of Baghdad Reuters 15 October 2006 (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)
  23. MTP Transcript for Jan. 7, 2007 - Meet the Press, online at NBC News - nbcnews.com
  24. Iraqi Sunnis join Shiite Militias
  25. Anbar tribes form first Sunni militia to fight ISIS
  26. Khalilzad: Crackdown under review CNN 11 July 2006
  27. Ask the White House 10 April 2006
  28. Senator Kennedy on "Mission Accomplished" and Supplemental Funding Archived 2008-01-02 at the Wayback Machine TedKennedy.com
  29. Lawmakers to Bush: Push Iraq on Militias Associated Press 22 October 2006 (Link dead as of 15 January 2007)
  30. Think the Islamic State is bad? Check out the 'good guys', globalpost.com. Tracey Shelton |17 October 2014
  31. Inside Iraq’s ‘killing zones’ Archived 2014-12-19 at the Wayback Machine, saudigazette.com.sa.
  32. ALI KHEDERY (19 Feb 2015). "Iran's Shiite Militias Are Running Amok in Iraq". FP. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  33. "America, Israel and Iran: The ire over Iran". The Economist. 28 Mar 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2015.
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