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Militia Spotlight

Militia Spotlight uses open source monitoring to:
UNDERSTAND the objectives, structure, and activity of Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria;
EXPOSE militia information operations and disinformation campaigns;
IDENTIFY linkages between groups and with Iran to increase accountability; and
DENY anonymity and deniability to Iran-backed militias.

Visit the supplementary Militia Spotlight: Profiles hub.

Articles in this Series

Brief Analysis
How to Use Militia Spotlight
Militia Spotlight provides rapid, high-quality analysis and contextualization of militia activities in Iraq and Syria.
Feb 10, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Akram Kaabi meets Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Bogdanov in Moscow in December 2022
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Akram Kaabi’s Visit to Moscow and Its Aftermath
Russia now feels emboldened to openly host Iraqi "resistance" leaders with no government role—including designated terrorists—to discuss their shared interest in confronting the West and working together in Syria and Iraq.
Jan 27, 2023
◆
  • Erik Yavorsky
◆ Militia Spotlight
TW Tanf hit
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Transnational Muqawama Show Disapproval Via Warithuun Attack on al-Tanf
With probable IRGC-QF acquiescence, a militia facade group struck U.S. targets in Syria to register its defiance against a possible extension of the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Jan 24, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sudani CF
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Spokesmen Reflect on Sudani Inviting U.S. Forces to Remain
Asaib Ahl al-Haq is signaling pragmatism, while Kataib Hezbollah is contorting its arguments to allow it to play along, albeit without explicitly accepting a U.S. military presence.
Jan 17, 2023
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Iraqi cabinet
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Lauds "Resistance Government" in Iraq
Pro-militia parliamentarians and journalists have become increasingly open about what they expect the Sudani government's role to be: a cover for the muqawama.
Jan 11, 2023
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
PM Sudani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
"Sudani Is a General Manager": How Militias View Iraq's New Prime Minister
Militia leaders have stated that his authority will be limited to technocratic and bureaucratic matters, while they will dictate the country's strategic direction and security decisions—including the future U.S. presence in Iraq.
Dec 1, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
IRAM June 4, 2007
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah and Kaf Celebrate Attacks on Americans
The militia's media channel has been praising past Iranian-aided terrorist acts that killed and wounded U.S. military personnel in Iraq—and linking them to current activities.
Nov 30, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Aya Yousuf
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
USAID
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Demonize USAID After U.S. Citizen Gunned Down in Baghdad
Media outlets run by Iran-backed groups have justified the killing by claiming that the targeted civilian was a spy.
Nov 8, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Rabee Nadir
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Journalist to Head New Prime Minister's Communications Team
Rabee Nader has a long history of working with U.S.-designated terrorist groups Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq, so appointing him could place Prime Minister Sudani's office at risk of potential sanctions.
Nov 3, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
A Turkish outpost in Iraqi Kurdistan
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Pivot Away from U.S. Targets, Toward Kurdistan and Turkish Bases
Attack metrics prove that Iran-backed groups currently see more profit in striking "near enemies" than American forces.
Oct 17, 2022
◆
  • Eric Feely
◆ Militia Spotlight
Zainab Isam
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Disinformation and the Zainab Isam al-Khazali Shooting
"Resistance" groups launched a coordinated and intentionally misleading anti-American media campaign to ease domestic pressure caused by the unrest in Iran.
Oct 5, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
AWH graphic
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militia Group Makes Credible New Threat Against the Gulf States
The facade group in question tends to follow through on its warnings, so its latest rhetoric about using developments in Yemen as cause for new attacks should be taken seriously.
Oct 3, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sadrist protestors, Republic Palace, Baghdad, August 29, 2022
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Show Message Discipline During Sadrist Clashes
Centralized direction was evident as "resistance" outlets carried out their (apparently successful) public relations campaign to claim the moral high ground.
Aug 30, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
U.S. Central Command graphic, Aug 15, 2022 drone attack on Al Tanf
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah's Role in the August 15 al-Tanf Attack
The Syria strike was launched from the militia's bastion in Iraq and used Iranian-provided KAS-04 explosive drones.
Aug 25, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
SCF protests
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Khazali Isolated Over International Zone Protests
The militia leader is being constrained by other members of the Iran-dominated Shia Coordination Framework regarding how to respond to Sadrist protests.
Aug 3, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sabereen News threat to Istanbul - cropped
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Claiming Without Claiming: Iraqi Militia Responses to Turkish Attacks
Sabereen News has been operating as the clearinghouse for coverage of "resistance" strikes on Turkish targets, nodding to specific facade groups and hinting at future attacks inside Turkey.
Jul 22, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Ahrar Sinjar drone image
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Ahrar Sinjar: Militia Employment of the Yazidi Community
Ahrar Sinjar is a worrisome example of Iran-backed militias using minorities to undertake cross-border rocket attacks and build terrorist cells in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
May 26, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Alex Almeida
  • Anwar al-Zamani
◆ Militia Spotlight
A Turkish Bayraktor UAV on display at an airshow - source: Reuters
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Muqawama's Duel with Turkey
Turkish counterstrikes may have instilled caution in militia rocketeers, suggesting more attacks may come against U.S. and Kurdish targets instead.
May 17, 2022
◆
  • Alex Almeida
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Tahira
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Cyber-Surge (Part 2): Attributing Attacks to Militia Platforms
Sabereen News has seemingly broadened its capabilities to include simple hacking tactics like DDoS attacks, and it might quickly proceed to more complex exploits.
Apr 25, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Tahira
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Cyber-Surge (Part 1): Chronology of Recent Attacks
Sabereen News appears to have added cyberattacks to its normal activities of spreading militia propaganda and disinformation, claiming operations against Israeli, Turkish, and Saudi targets.
Apr 25, 2022
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sabereen sistani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sabereen's Suspension (Part 2): Causes and Consequences
The network's hiatus may have been ordered in response to its recent lean toward Russia, or perhaps its role in enabling a controversial arson attack on a political office.
Apr 11, 2022
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Al-Maymun
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sabereen's Suspension (Part 1): Signs of Dissent and Noncompliance
The network was closed down almost entirely from March 28 to April 8, albeit with one apparent effort by rebellious members to refuse the suspension and blame Iran.
Apr 11, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Rocket crater, Omar oilfield in Syria, April 6, 2022
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Spring Awakening: A New Wave of Militia Strikes or Just a Blip?
Militia groups appear to be increasingly exercising their different kinetic capabilities in Iraq and Syria, but why now?
Apr 8, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Militia Russian propaganda
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
From Russia With Love? Sabereen's Ukraine Coverage
Alongside an apparent technical uplift, the militia network's coverage of the crisis has gone far beyond that of even the most pro-Russian outlets in Iraq.
Mar 24, 2022
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Nujaba clip
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Nujaba's Regime Change Threat to the Kurdistan Democratic Party
With its first Kurdish-language video, the militia has upped the stakes by hinting at regime change in Iraqi Kurdistan.
Mar 21, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight

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