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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
Sabereen logo
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sabereen News Criticizes Iran for Lack of Support
Elements of Asaib Ahl al-Haq and Kataib Hezbollah are seemingly trying to extract domestic and Iranian support for more forceful pushback against their recent political isolation.
Nov 13, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Quadcopters in Syria and Iraq, 2019-2021
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Meltdown, Part 2: Drone Attack on the Prime Minister
Militias followed up Qais al-Khazali's threats against Kadhimi by attacking his residence, shattering the narrative of victimhood they had been building through protests.
Nov 7, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sit-in tent, Baghdad, November 6, 2021
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Meltdown, Part 1: Protesting the Election
In the wake of their failed election campaigns and other recent setbacks, militias sought to deepen their claims of victimhood and politically damage Prime Minister Kadhimi with protests.
Nov 7, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Rocket
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Rocket Attacks on the Iraqi National Intelligence Service
Such attacks are a specialized subset of violent militia actions, with the most recent incident likely undertaken by Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
Nov 2, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Nujana Syria 2
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Interpreting the Reemergence of the Allies of Syria Operations Room
The recent attack on al-Tanf base and the identity of the Iraqi factions that reportedly helped carry it out indicate Iran's plans to establish a new "deterrence equation" in Syria.
Oct 28, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Tanf
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militia Propaganda Around the Attack on al-Tanf
Iraqi militia actors appear to have had forewarning of the attack, reflecting an increasing focus on anti-coalition operations in Syria.
Oct 22, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Anti air
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi Militias Show Off Iranian Anti-Air Missile
Iran-backed resistance groups are seemingly staging missile "discoveries" as a way of warning off coalition air forces.
Oct 21, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Figure 2: Ahmad Abdal-Sadah, muqawama-affiliated commentator on al-Etejah TV, May 27, 2021.
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Issue Post-Election Threats Against UNAMI and the UAE
After their humiliating defeat in the parliamentary election, Iran-backed groups launched a bizarre campaign against UN and Emirati officials.
Oct 19, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Erbil con
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Sabereen News Calls for Beheading of Iraqi Citizens
After the Erbil conference, which called for normalizing ties between Iraq and Israel, the largest resistance social media organ called for beheadings and then tried to cover its tracks.
Oct 3, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Hoquq candidates
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Hoquq Candidates: Kataib Hezbollah’s Aspiring Parliamentarians
Hoquq is competing head-to-head with other "resistance" factions in key Shia constituencies, especially Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
Sep 30, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Hossein Moanes
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Hossein Moanes Sparks Angry Words Between Kataib Hezbollah and Asaib Ahl al-Haq
The senior KH member now leads a new political movement that is competing with other Iran-backed militia factions for votes in the coming election.
Sep 14, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Drone wreckage, Erbil, April 14, 2021
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iran’s Proxies in Iraq Undertake the World's Only Terrorist Attack Commemorating 9/11
Two drones were intercepted in a mission that Sabereen News dedicated to “reminding the Americans of the September 11 attacks."
Sep 14, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Muqawama fighters
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Muqawama Struggle to Show Cohesion on "Withdrawal" of U.S. Forces
A pan-Shia forum and Lebanese Hezbollah prodded the Tansiqiya to grudgingly paper over cracks in solidarity among resistance groups.
Aug 3, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Kataib Hezbollah Logo
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Muqawama Are Focusing Attack Claims on U.S. Bases in Syria
Iraqi militias have said more about attacking such bases in the past six weeks than they did in preceding years.
Jul 28, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Jazira drones
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Drones of Kataib Hezbollah's Jazira Command
KH-commanded militia units appear to have exclusive control over Iranian-provided drones, highlighting the group's links to Tehran and its involvement in recent UAV operations.
Jul 20, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Are the Muqawama Signaling De-Escalation?
Although attacks on U.S. sites have surged, Iraqi militias appear to be laying the groundwork for de-escalation.
Jul 9, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Threat to air
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Assessing Militia Threats to Coalition Aircraft
Such threats are almost certainly information operations intended to demonstrate resolve and restrict coalition freedom of movement, not precursors to real attacks that could draw heavy U.S. retaliation.
Jul 6, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Toofan
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Parade Under the PMF Banner (Part 2): Ground Combat Systems
Tehran has bolstered the ground combat capabilities of its proxy militias within the PMF, though the equipment rarely sees combat employment.
Jul 3, 2021
◆
  • Farzin Nadimi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Mohajer drone
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Militias Parade Under the PMF Banner (Part 1): Drone Systems
Drone systems paraded in Camp Ashraf were a show of strength, including the debut of new types of Iranian-provided airframes and control vehicles.
Jul 3, 2021
◆
  • Farzin Nadimi
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Figure 1: Rocket and drone attacks on coalition "points of presence".
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraq’s Drone and Rocket Epidemic, By the Numbers
Attacks on coalition points of presence are increasing in quantity and quality, making U.S. fatalities increasingly likely unless deterrence is restored.
Jun 27, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
PMF
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Iraqi Muqawama Are Feeling Isolated and Threatened
The brazen approach taken by "resistance" factions in recent weeks was designed to undermine the government, but it is now coming back to hurt them.
Jun 19, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Figure 1: Qais al-Khazali’s interview with iNEWS TV, June 1, 2021
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Qais al-Khazali's Show of Independence
The militia leader is positioning himself as Iran's equal and close partner, aspiring to comparisons with Hassan Nasrallah and Abdul-Malik al-Houthi.
Jun 14, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Qais in military attire
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Qais al-Khazali Doubles Down on His Muqawama Membership
The militia leader has not hesitated to provide court-quality evidence that he and his movement Asaib Ahl al-Haq are actively involved in attacks on U.S. forces.
Jun 7, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Etejah
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Threats Against Iraq's Government Aired on al-Etejah TV
Kataib Hezbollah's television outlet is still airing false claims about the release of Qasim Muslih, as well as coup threats that draw comparisons to Yemen's Houthi takeover.
Jun 1, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight

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