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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
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
Muqawama under threat
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Downscaling Their Anti-Israel Actions
Iran-backed groups were already powering down for weeks before Israel delivered a stark warning on November 18, after which attacks dropped off almost entirely.
Nov 26, 2024
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Faces shown on Nov 6 IRI claim video of drone strike on Jordan Valley
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia List of U.S. “Greatest Hits” Gives Insight Into Attack Cell Structure
A poster of thirty-six militia “martyrs” provides useful data about who was killed by U.S. forces at specific times and places.
Nov 26, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
◆ Militia Spotlight
Boat from SAD Nov 19, 2024 drone launch vs Israel
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Unveil SAD Aircraft Carrier
Saraya Awliya al-Dam launched a Shahed drone from a small boat in an apparent effort to draw attention by demonstrating a rudimentary new capability.
Nov 19, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
MIBH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Anti-Israel Attacks by Iraq-Based Group with Implied Saudi Membership
A group with a Saudi-linked name has claimed six attacks on Israel, but they were probably launched from Iraq using Kataib Hezbollah and/or Houthi drone teams.
Nov 19, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH drones
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Try to Obfuscate Their Role in Anti-U.S. Attacks
Members of the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" are using facades and unclaimed attacks to distance themselves from the recent uptick in operations against American targets.
Oct 29, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Protestors carrying Iraqi, Lebanon, and KH flags
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Mob Attacks Saudi MBC Channel in Baghdad
Provocative Gulf coverage of terrorist leader deaths spurred Kataib Hezbollah to unleash mob violence against the network's Baghdad offices.
Oct 28, 2024
◆
  • Amir al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
SaD Shahed-101 with serials Oct 12, 2024
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Tripling of Iraqi Militia Claimed Attacks on Israel in October
The self-styled Islamic Resistance in Iraq has greatly increased its attack claims and is starting to cause fatalities in Israel, inviting a military response.
Oct 15, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Energy war
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Deciphering Iraqi Militia Threats of an Energy War
Nujaba and Kataib Hezbollah have warned they will attack energy facilities in the Gulf and elsewhere, but how serious are these threats?
Oct 15, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qasef-2k drone in Iraq, photograph made public on August 23, 2022
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Tracking Anti-U.S. and Anti-Israel Strikes From Iraq and Syria During the Gaza Crisis
Militia Spotlight presents a regularly updated tracker with the best-known information about drone, rocket, and missile attacks against U.S. and allied targets, which have intensified since the Gaza war broke out.
Oct 14, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Amir al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Friday Prayers
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Qais in Tehran, Prominently Seated Behind Khamenei
At a recent event in Iran, the leader of the key Iraqi militia Asaib Ahl al-Haq was strategically positioned in a place of honor directly behind the Supreme Leader.
Oct 7, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
KM
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
What Basrawi Politican Is Behind Kataib al-Mustafa?
The strange little militia Kataib al-Mustafa announced itself to great fanfare in Basra, and judging by its media reception, it has an important mystery backer.
Oct 1, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Qais al-Khazali
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
New Exposé on Sudani PMO Eavesdropping Is Suppressed, But Archived Online
A second major report on the political surveillance scandal was quickly muted, in part because it was highly critical of Iranian Qods Force commander Esmail Qaani.
Sep 25, 2024
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah in the Caucasus: One to Watch
Unconfirmed but detailed reporting on potential Iraqi terrorist cells in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan should be a wake-up call to monitor Kataib Hezbollah's external operations more closely.
Sep 24, 2024
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
PMF Human Rights
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Human Rights Abusers Set Up PMF Department of Human Rights
UN officials should not be holding events hosted by Iraqi militia figures responsible for the deaths of protesters and other gruesome offenses, yet that is precisely what is happening under a new militia "human rights" bureau.
Sep 17, 2024
◆
  • Ameer al-Kaabi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight

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