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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 timely, high-quality evidence, analysis and contextualization of militia activities in Iraq and Syria, both within government agencies and outside them.
Feb 10, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH-linked Iraqi MP Mustafa Sanad
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Terrorist Wing of the Iraqi Government Opposes Sharaa Visit
Two of Prime Minister Sudani's partners in government—the terrorist groups Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq—have stepped up their efforts to bar Syria's new president from a Baghdad summit.
May 15, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais_AAH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Asaib Ahl al-Haq Accuses Faleh al-Fayyad of Turkish Collusion
The militia continues to battle with the PMF secretary-general, this time highlighting his alleged promotion of Turkish interests in the hope of undermining him.
May 8, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH_protest
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Return of Abu Ali al-Askari
In its first statement since October, a notorious Kataib Hezbollah Telegram account offered a deeper dive into how the "resistance" views a range of new developments in Iraq, Syria, and Iran.
Apr 24, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sharaa_wanted
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sudani's Invitation to Ahmed al-Sharaa Triggers Militia Backlash
Iraq's self-styled "resistance" had an allergic reaction to the idea of Syria's new president setting foot on Iraqi soil, putting Prime Minister Sudani at odds with some of his terrorist supporters.
Apr 23, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH-Prayers
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Chief Urges Ongoing Caution with the United States
Abu Hussein has asked the group's fighters to keep showing restraint, seemingly reinforcing Iran's preference for calm as nuclear talks with Washington proceed.
Apr 22, 2025
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Abdul-Mahdi_Sanaa
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Abdulmahdi in Yemen: An Emerging Militia Godfather
A former Iraqi prime minister is using his freedom from U.S. sanctions to act as an envoy between designated terrorist groups.
Mar 28, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais_Sulaimani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Dual Face of Qais al-Khazali: Extremist at Heart, Politician by Necessity
Khazali presents himself as a mainstream political figure, but his internal narrative reveals unwavering loyalty to Iran's "axis of resistance" and a deeply entrenched extremist ideology opposed to the West.
Mar 17, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Uli al-Baas cover 1
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Uli al-Baas (Part 2): Key Analytic Findings
Uli al-Baas certainly looks and feels like an Iran-supported militia info-ops platform, designed to give the impression (possibly accurate) that a pantheon of armed groups are activating to fight Israel and the new Syrian government.
Mar 9, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Sary Mumayiz
◆ Militia Spotlight
Uli al-Baas-Syria
Maps & Graphics
Uli al-Baas (Part 1): A New Islamic Resistance Front in Syria?
A newly formed "resistance" group emerged online in January, vowing to confront Israel's presence and Syria’s interim president.
Mar 9, 2025
◆
  • Sary Mumayiz
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
A priest leads an Easter mass at the Grand Immaculate Church in Al-Hamdaniya, Iraq, April 9, 2023 - source: Reuters
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Babylon Brigade Plans to Rig 2025 Voting in Christian Areas
An Iran-backed brigade led by a U.S.-designated human rights abuser is preparing to repeat its unfair practices and dominate local Christian voting in this year's general election.
Mar 3, 2025
◆
  • Yaqoub Beth-Addai
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH_Nasrallah Funeral
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Hassan Nasrallah's Funeral: Iraqi Militia Response and Attendance
Most of the top militia leaders appeared too cowed to show up, but a wide assortment of senior Iraqi "resistance" and political figures did attend, including potential future candidates for prime minister.
Feb 27, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Houthis show support for Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Yemen, 2020
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Update on Houthi Involvement in Iraq
The cessation of Houthi-Iraqi joint strikes on Israel does not mean that Houthi money-movers and trainers have gone home; more likely, they are now a permanent feature of Iraq and merit close scrutiny from counterterrorism analysts.
Feb 26, 2025
◆
  • Sary Mumayiz
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Mohammed Reza Nouri unsealed deposition
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Direct-Operated IRGC-QF Attack Cells in Iraq: Data Related to the Troell Case
The FBI deposition on Steven Troell’s killers and other evidence provides a closer look inside cross-militia Iraq terrorist cells operated by Iran's Qods Force and potentially linked to the facade brand Ashab al-Kahf.
Feb 19, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Fatimyoun
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Fatemiyoun/Zainabiyoun Influx: Iraq’s Intensified Hosting of Two U.S.-Designated Terrorist Groups
New data shows that Iran-backed Afghan and Pakistani terrorists are arriving at a broadening range of Iraqi military bases.
Feb 11, 2025
◆
  • Hassan al-Araji
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Sary Mumayiz
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sudani London
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sudani Brings Advisors to London Who Support Terrorism and Call for Attacks on U.S.-Led Coalition Forces
Figures linked to Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah were among the Iraqi prime minister's recent UK delegation.
Feb 6, 2025
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
Liwa Fatimiyoun flag
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Hundreds of Iran-Backed Fatemiyoun and Zainabiyoun Terrorists Warehoused at Iraqi Government Bases
Since the fall of the Assad regime, Baghdad has provided shelter and material support to members of two U.S.-designated Afghan and Pakistani groups run by the Iranian military.
Jan 29, 2025
◆
  • Sary Mumayiz
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
A Kaabi
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militia Leader Labels President Trump an "Idiot," Threatens U.S. Forces
U.S.-designated terrorist Akram Kaabi is projecting a sense of impunity and demonstrating little fear of the United States or its leader.
Jan 26, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Mohammad Reza Nouri and Qassem Soleimani 2
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iran Makes Second Effort to Recover IRGC Officer from Iraqi Custody
The regime wants Baghdad to hand over the officer who orchestrated the 2022 murder of U.S. citizen Stephen Troell—not the first time it has leveraged Iraqi militia factions to seek his release.
Jan 23, 2025
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sudani Iran 2
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
PMF Non-Deployment to Save Assad: Sudani’s View Contradicted by Iran
The Iraqi prime minister portrayed Baghdad's non-intervention in Syria as a sovereign decision, but Iranian leaders gave a different explanation.
Jan 21, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Muhandis/Soleimani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Too Scared to Fully Commemorate Soleimani and Muhandis
In the shadow of Trump's imminent inauguration, Iran-backed terrorist groups were cautious in how they commemorated the anniversary of the January 2020 killings.
Jan 14, 2025
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
How Long Will Qais al-Khazali Hide in Iran?
The leader of Asaib Ahl al-Haq has been abroad for weeks, and his movements (and those of his deputies back home) are worth watching closely.
Dec 24, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
CMC head
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraq's Militia-Led Communications Commission Clamps Down on Press Coverage of Security Issues
The CMC's latest restrictions on press freedoms indicate that Iran-backed groups fear they could be ousted from power much like Bashar al-Assad next door.
Dec 16, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
Security forces the Iraqi-Syrian border, after it has been reopened for trade and travel, in Al Qaim, Iraq in 2019 - source: Reuters
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Nujaba Projects Paranoia Over Domestic Security
Nujaba's immediate allergic reaction to regime change in Syria is a bellwether of how vulnerable Coordination Framework militias feel as pro-Iran hierarchies come tumbling down.
Dec 16, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
HH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Hashem al-Haidari Calls for Preemptive Actions Against U.S. Embassy
One of Iran's most trusted lieutenants in the Iraqi militia scene is loudly rattling his saber against the U.S. presence in the Middle East.
Dec 16, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight

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