Quds Force using militants in Iraq – Part 4

6. Restructuring the Badr forces

- On June 19^th a group of Quds Force commanders went to the 9^th Badr office in Baghdad’s Jaderiye district and then went off to inspect various areas of the Iraqi capital. Abu Maryam Ansari, Hadi al-Ameri’s deputy was accompanying this group.

New tactics used by Quds Force in Iraq

1. Following the defeats suffered by the Quds Force in the operation to retake Tikrit and Iraq’s request from Iran to pull back Revolutionary Guards combat units, Iran has now resorted to new tactics in Iraq.

2. To replace IRGC combat units in Iraq, the Quds Force is currently using local forces and forming its necessary units to carry out its missions in Iraq.

Quds Force using militants in Iraq – Part 3

Following advances made by the armed tribes and the series of defeats suffered by Maliki’s forces in al-Anbar and Mosul, a number of Quds Force experts and commanders stationed in Baghdad and began evaluating the situation on the ground in various fronts. Quds Force military experts in their evaluations on how to confront the armed tribes reached this conclusion that the urgent and immediate solution available under the current circumstances is to use its affiliated militants such as Asaeb al-Haq, Katayeb Hezbollah and Badr militants that needed to be restructured. Under orders issued by Qassem Suleimani and following the example of Revolutionary Guards Bassij units in Iran, the 9^th Badr Corps forces with a newly structured ranks and file were dispatched to the warfronts, such as Diyala Province, to reinforce Maliki’s forces. For this new structure Suleimani called on retired Badr commanders – who had worked for the Quds Force back in Iran for years prior to 2003 – and dispatched them as Badr battalions on combat missions. In this regard former Badr commander Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes, a member of Suleimani’s inner circle, was called back and he is currently acting as Suleimani’s chief of staff in Iraq.

Quds Force using militants in Iraq – Part 2

2. Restructuring militant forces in Iraq

In late February a Quds Force commander by the name of Haj Abbas was sent to Iraq with a mission of restructuring militant forces linked to the Asaeb and other groups. These measures were carried out to prepare them for the war in al-Anbar. In his first steps he began restructuring the Asaeb al-Haq with completely new ranks and files, and also recruiting fresh members. The delayed paychecks of Asayeb members, some not paid for 3 months, were all provided for. This group once again launched its operations and their organized ranks were prepared to take part in the al-Anbar war.

“Burned Lands”: Quds Force plan to takeover Fallujah

Following the US forces’ opposition regarding the participation of Shiite militias in operations aimed at liberating Iraq’s restive Anbar Province and emphasizing on the participation of Sunni tribes in these attacks, the Iranian regime saw all its plots facing serious threats. One of Tehran’s red lines is the participation of Sunni tribes because these forces are viewed as a rival against the Shiite militias it is fully backing, whereas the US plan of training and arming Anbar tribes also crosses Iran’s red line.

Introducing Militant Groups in Iraq – Katayeb Hezbollah

The Quds Force is currently expanding its sphere of influence in Iraq through its widespread network of affiliated militant groups. Senior Quds Force commanders, including Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi Mohandess are in Iraq to organize and utilize these militant groups. Asayeb al-Haq, led by Gheis Khazali, along with the 9^th Badr Corps militants led by Hadi al-Ameri, are the main such groups. Here is more input on the Katayeb Hezbollah that plays a major role in implement the Iranian regime’s policy in Iraq.