Latest news with #Hashedal-Shaabi
Iraqi News
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Iraq targets Hezbollah Brigades after illegal Baghdad attack
Baghdad – The Iraqi government toughened its position towards pro-Iran faction the Hezbollah Brigades on Saturday, announcing some members would be tried over a recent deadly clash and others had been stripped of their commands. The decision follows an attack on a government office in south Baghdad late last month that killed three people, including a policeman, and which the authorities blamed on the group. Like other armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the jihadist Islamic State group (IS), the Hezbollah Brigades were integrated into the regular security forces as part of the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force. However, the faction has developed a reputation for sometimes acting on its own. Iraq's Joint Operations Command previously said that more than a dozen suspects were detained over the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office, which was prompted by the sacking of the director. Saturday's government statement said the suspects were 'fighters belonging to Hezbollah Brigades and affiliated to Regiments 45 and 46 of the Hashed al-Shaabi'. It charged that the attack on the ministry's office had been led by the former director. 'In addition to being implicated in several cases of corruption', the suspected ringleader stood accused of 'falsifying official documents, certificates and contracts so that farmland could be confiscated from its legitimate owners', the statement said. The government said it regretted 'command and control failings within the Hashed al-Shaabi' and condemned the 'presence of armed factions which do not respect military rules and procedures'. The authorities announced the 'dismissal of the commanders of Regiments 45 and 46' and the prosecution of 'everybody implicated' in the case. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said 25 people faced trial — the Hezbollah Brigades fighters and the former head of the ministry office. The group says many of those detained had nothing to do with last month's clash. The case comes amid deep divisions in Iraq over a proposed law that would further formalise the role — and perhaps, the autonomy — of the Hashed al-Shaabi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation 'would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty'. Formed in 2014 when Iraqis were urged to take up arms against IS, the Hashed now counts more than 200,000 fighters and employees, and wields major military and political clout.
Al-Ahram Weekly
10-08-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Iraq toughens stance against paramilitary force after Baghdad clash - Region
The Iraqi government toughened its stance on Saturday towards the Tehran-aligned Hezbollah Brigades, announcing that some members would face trial over a recent deadly clash while others were stripped of their commands. The decision follows an attack on a government office in south Baghdad late last month that killed three people, including a policeman, and which the authorities blamed on the group. Like other armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the jihadist Islamic State group (IS), the Hezbollah Brigades were integrated into the regular security forces as part of the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force. However, the faction has developed a reputation for sometimes acting on its own. Iraq's Joint Operations Command previously said that more than a dozen suspects were detained over the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office, which was prompted by the sacking of the director. Saturday's government statement said the suspects were "fighters belonging to Hezbollah Brigades and affiliated to Regiments 45 and 46 of the Hashed al-Shaabi". It charged that the attack on the ministry's office had been led by the former director. "In addition to being implicated in several cases of corruption", the suspected ringleader stood accused of "falsifying official documents, certificates and contracts so that farmland could be confiscated from its legitimate owners", the statement said. The government said it regretted "command and control failings within the Hashed al-Shaabi" and condemned the "presence of armed factions which do not respect military rules and procedures". The authorities announced the "dismissal of the commanders of Regiments 45 and 46" and the prosecution of "everybody implicated" in the case. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said 25 people faced trial -- the Hezbollah Brigades fighters and the former head of the ministry office. The group says many of those detained had nothing to do with last month's clash. The case comes amid deep divisions in Iraq over a proposed law that would further formalise the role -- and perhaps, the autonomy -- of the Hashed al-Shaabi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation "would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty". Formed in 2014 when Iraqis were urged to take up arms against IS, the Hashed now counts more than 200,000 fighters and employees, and wields major military and political clout. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
The Sun
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Iraq cracks down on pro-Iran faction after deadly Baghdad clash
BAGHDAD: The Iraqi government has taken a firmer stance against the pro-Iran Hezbollah Brigades following a deadly clash in Baghdad. Authorities announced that some members will face trial while others have been stripped of their military commands. The move comes after an attack on a government office in southern Baghdad last month left three dead, including a policeman. The Hezbollah Brigades, part of the Hashed al-Shaabi force, were accused of orchestrating the assault. Originally trained by Iran to fight against the Islamic State group, the faction has often acted independently. Over a dozen suspects were detained in connection with the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office. The government stated that those involved were fighters from the Hezbollah Brigades linked to Hashed al-Shaabi regiments 45 and 46. The attack was allegedly led by the former director of the ministry office. Authorities accused the ringleader of corruption and falsifying documents to seize farmland unlawfully. The government condemned the lack of discipline within the Hashed al-Shaabi and armed factions disregarding military protocols. Commanders of regiments 45 and 46 were dismissed, with all implicated individuals set for prosecution. A security official revealed that 25 people, including fighters and the ex-ministry head, will stand trial. The Hezbollah Brigades claim many detainees had no involvement in the clash. The case highlights tensions over a proposed law formalising the Hashed al-Shaabi's role in Iraq. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned the law could entrench Iranian influence through armed factions. Formed in 2014 to combat IS, the Hashed now boasts over 200,000 fighters and holds significant political power. - AFP
New Straits Times
10-08-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Iraq cracks down on Hizbollah Brigades after deadly attack
BAGHDAD: The Iraqi government toughened its position towards pro-Iran faction the Hizbollah Brigades on Saturday, announcing some members would be tried over a recent deadly clash and others had been stripped of their commands. The decision follows an attack on a government office in south Baghdad late last month that killed three people, including a policeman, and which the authorities blamed on the group. Like other armed groups trained by Iran during the war against the jihadist Islamic State group (IS), the Hizbollah Brigades were integrated into the regular security forces as part of the Hashed al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force. However, the faction has developed a reputation for sometimes acting on its own. Iraq's Joint Operations Command previously said that more than a dozen suspects were detained over the July 27 attack on an agriculture ministry office, which was prompted by the sacking of the director. Saturday's government statement said the suspects were "fighters belonging to Hizbollah Brigades and affiliated to Regiments 45 and 46 of the Hashed al-Shaabi." It charged that the attack on the ministry's office had been led by the former director. "In addition to being implicated in several cases of corruption", the suspected ringleader stood accused of "falsifying official documents, certificates and contracts so that farmland could be confiscated from its legitimate owners", the statement said. The government said it regretted "command and control failings within the Hashed al-Shaabi" and condemned the "presence of armed factions which do not respect military rules and procedures." The authorities announced the "dismissal of the commanders of Regiments 45 and 46" and the prosecution of "everybody implicated" in the case. A security official speaking on condition of anonymity said 25 people faced trial – the Hizbollah Brigades fighters and the former head of the ministry office. The group says many of those detained had nothing to do with last month's clash. The case comes amid deep divisions in Iraq over a proposed law that would further formalise the role – and perhaps, the autonomy – of the Hashed al-Shaabi. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation "would institutionalise Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty."
Nahar Net
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Iraq divided over future of pro-Iran armed alliance
by Naharnet Newsdesk 08 August 2025, 14:53 A bill in Iraq that would further formalize the role -- and perhaps, the autonomy -- of a powerful coalition of pro-Iran former paramilitaries has sparked a heated debate, fanned in part by U.S. pressure. Few details of the bill that could decide the future of the Hashed al-Shaabi alliance have been made public. Formed in 2014 when Iraqis were urged to take up arms against the jihadists of the Islamic State group, the Hashed is a powerful force with major military and political clout. The bill aims at regulating and restructuring the alliance of a myriad of armed groups, which together have more than 200,000 fighters and employees. Not mincing words, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the proposed legislation "would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq's sovereignty". An Iraqi government official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said opponents of the bill say it "seems to establish something similar to the Revolutionary Guards" in Iran -- a powerful military force imbued with the Islamic republic's ideology. The aim, according to political scientist Renad Mansour, is to integrate the Hashed "even more into the state". "Some argue that this is an important first step, because it's better to have them in this system than outside the system, where they could be spoilers," said Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House think tank. But others, he added, "argue that this is a further way for the Hashed to consolidate its power", giving the alliance "access to greater funds, greater intelligence, and other kind of equipment and technology". - 'Not a coherent institution' - The debate around the bill comes at a time of heightened regional tensions and upheavals, as the Gaza war reverberates across the Middle East. Iranian allies and proxies have been weakened in wars with Israel, which has Washington's backing. In Lebanon, Tehran-backed group Hezbollah faces a government push to disarm it by the end of the year. In recent years, the Iraqi armed factions have seen their clout grow, with some gaining seats in parliament and in government, even as several group leaders -- including the Hashed's top commander -- have been subjected to US sanctions. In 2022 the coalition was granted a public works enterprise, Al-Muhandis, with capital worth tens of millions of dollars. Responding to Washington's concerns, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has defended the proposed bill as "part of the government's broader security reform agenda". The Hashed "is an official Iraqi military institution operating under the authority of the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces", Sudani said. A 2016 law already affords the Hashed the status of a public body. But some factions face accusations of collecting government salaries for their fighters on the one hand, but acting entirely independently of the state on the other. Some of the factions within the Hashed are aligned with Baghdad, while others pledge their allegiance first and foremost to the Tehran-led "Axis of Resistance". The latter have in the past launched rockets and explosive-laden drones at US troops stationed in Iraq as part of an anti-jihadist coalition. Mansour said the Hashed was unlikely to morph into something that resembles Iran's Guards. It "isn't a coherent institution", he said. "It has many different groups, many different factions, many different leaders, and they're still fighting with each other." - 'Patronage' - Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source close to the armed factions told AFP that Shiite Muslim political parties seek a "special law" that would guarantee the Hashed remains "an independent military institution, on the same level as the interior or defense ministry". Sunni Muslim and Kurdish politicians oppose any such move, and even among the Shiites there is no consensus, said the government official. Deputy parliament speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi said the proposed legislation "contributes to enhancing the combat capabilities" of the Hashed and to "creating new formations concerned with developing this security institution", according to the official Iraq News Agency. If approved, it would pave the way for the creation of a special military academy and secure the Hashed's "financial independence", according to a parliament report published by state media. According to the report, the Iraqi state council noted the "bloating" of administrative structures, and opposed the creation of such an academy for the Hashed instead of using existing defense ministry facilities. But with legislative elections coming up in November, the former paramilitaries may seek to seize on the chance to gain institutional recognition. The Hashed "needs something to reinvigorate its base", said Mansour. "The more the Hashed is institutionalized, the more access it has to Iraq's wealthy state coffers," he added. "This could become another mechanism for patronage."
