Shocking assassination of U.N. representative in Iraq’s Diyala Province

February 2016

Amer al-Kaissy, an Iraqi citizen and United Nations representative in Diyala Province, was abducted by a Shiite militia group on 26 February 2015 outside a governorate office in the city of Baquba. Their first motive was ransom money from the family, demanding $40,000. Amer’s brother was taking action to come up with the money. However, as the Quds Force entered the scene and the Shiite militia group was barred from doing such a deal.

Iran’s demands from the Iraqi government

February 2016

Following the nuclear agreement sealed with the West the Iranian regime is in desperate need of international and regional support. Iran’s influence in Iraq has diminished significantly. In all their meetings with senior Iraqi officials the Iranian counterparts are seen focusing on three main issues: Iran is facing major economic problems and the lowering price of oil – led by Saudi Arabia – has placed severe repercussions on the regime’s economy. Therefore, Tehran is asking Baghdad to trek in line with Iran in their policy making decisions in OPEC. On foreign policy senior Iranian officials have time and again called on Iraqi officials to severe their relations with Saudi Arabia and downgrade their ties with the U.S. and other Arabic countries. Iraq’s positive response to two resolutions condemning Iran in the Cairo and Jeddah sessions was unexpected.

Why Shiite militias in Iraq oppose launching of Mosul operations?

February 2016

Shiite militias in Iraq, terrified of measures aimed at dissolving the Popular Mobilization Forces, are delaying operations aimed at liberating Mosul in northern Iraq.

Iran Quds Force associated Shiite militias in Iraq

Date: February 2016

Attiar al-Resali Battalions

Secretary-General: Adnin Ramidh Kharnub Abid al-Shahmani (Adnan al-Shahmani), MP

Religious Leader: Kazem al-Haeri

Foundation: June 2014

Iran’s measures to disrupt Saudi Arabia’s North Thunder military drills

 February 2016

Saudi Arabia’s announcement to carry out the North Thunder military drills for a week in the King Khalid Military City of the country’s northeastern frontier has led to major concerns for Iran. In response Iran has resorted to various measures, including deploying Iraqi Shiite militias to the Saudi border. The military drills area is located in north Saudi Arabia, neighboring the Iraqi provinces of Basra and Ziqar.

Iran sending Afghan nationals to fight in Syria

February 2016

During the past few months Iran has significantly increased its deployment of Afghan elements to Syria in support of Bashar Assad’s troops. In 2015 their numbers reached 8,000. Considering the fact that these Afghan nationals have no other motive to fight in Syria but to receive permission to live in Iran and receive their money, they are worn out and lose their fighting abilities very quickly. On the other hand, old weapons and lack of adequate training has led to an increasing number of casualties amongst these forces, having a negative impact on their spirits.

Why Iran-backed Shiite militias are hindering effort to save Mosul Dam in Iraq

February 2016

The Mosul Dam was built on the Tigris River in Iraq, standing with a height of 131 meters and width of 3,400 meters. The maximum water reserving capacity of this dam is 12 billion cubic meters and it cost $1.5 billion at the time and was inaugurated in 1985. Local and international reports have time and again in the past years warned on the possibility of the Mosul Dam crumbling. What is the truth of these warnings and why have such possibilities been raised of the dam crumbling: the first reason is the Mosul Dam was essentially constructed on unstable grounds, and is in need of constant strengthening efforts by injecting cement into its foundation to prevent a possible crumbling. The U.S. Army has described this as the most dangerous dam in the world.

Accelerating developments in the Middle East against Iran’s adventurisms

February 2016

Developments in the Middle East have been accelerating at an unprecedented pace, gaining the attention of all analysts and monitors. The presence of two senior American officials in the region, Vice President Joe Biden in Turkey and Secretary of State John Kerry in Saudi Arabia raised many eyebrows.

Iran’s venom remains in Khartoum

February 2016

Despite the fact that Sudan has severed all diplomatic ties and relations with Iran, closed down Tehran’s embassy in Khartoum and expelled all of this regime’s diplomat-terrorists from it soil, there remain thousands of people influenced by Iran’s Shiite propaganda in Sudan. Iran enjoyed close ideological relations with Islamist leaders in Sudan who had diverted to Shiite Islam and remained in that country. They can act as a deadly poison left in Sudan by the Iranian regime.

Are there actually two factions of reformists and hardliners in Iran?

February 2016

Recently Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said in his remarks made at the presence of Iranian regime supreme leader Ali Khamenei, “December 30^th was the day the Iranian people defended this regime, the laws and the supreme leader.”

Iran’s Quds Force forms “Nimr al-Nimr Brigade” in Iraq

January 2016

Iran is now facing complete isolation following the reactions and solidarity seen from Arab and regional countries on the attack staged against the Saudi embassy and consulate in Tehran and Mashhad. Iran attempted to use Quds Force-associated Shiite militias in Iraq to place pressure on the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and force Baghdad to support Tehran.

Iran’s further isolation in the Middle East

January 2016

The Foreign Ministers Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation was held at Saudi Arabia’s request on January 21^st in Jeddah. In the past the Iranian regime considered itself in complete control of the OIC and took advantage of this summit to cloak its terrorist objectives and meddling activities.

This summit was in one word a new step for even more isolation for Tehran in the Middle East, with the noose tightening around Iran’s neck more than ever before.

Iraqi Shiite militias in dire conditions & Quds Force policy

January 2016

The scope of internal disputes amongst the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq is increasing by the day. Up to a few months ago these differences were limited to their salaries and supplies. However, currently in addition to the previous problems these matters are being raised at the top brass of the PMF, leading to more troops defecting. Shiite militias in Salahadin are literally in a limbo. The salaries they received once in a while from their commanders is now no more and they are facing serious financial problems. Any budget received by deputy PMF commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as salary for the Shiite militias he has divided amongst in his inner circle, spent on arms and ammunition for his own special militia groups, all due to his differences with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and PMF commander Hadi al-Ameri. The Quds Force is intensely involved in Syria and due to high casualties has conditioned any salary pay for the Shiite militia groups on their taking part in the war in Syria.

Dispatching IRGC, Shiite militias from Iraq to Syria

January 2016

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) elements supporting Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) – formed of armed Shiite groups in Iraq – have begun withdrawing its ranks and files from Iraq and heading to Syria, according to reports received from inside Iran.

Biography and terrorist background of Qasem al-Araji

January 2016

Qasem al-Araji is a commander of the Quds Force installed in the Iraqi “9^th Badr Corps”, and he is currently an Iraqi MP.

Iran electing Maliki as Iraq’s future prime minister

January 2016

Former Iraqi prime minister Nouri Maliki visited Iran on November 25^th, 2015 and returned to Iraq after staying in Tehran for two weeks. Political, intelligence and military officials in Iran in their meetings with Maliki portrayed his road map for the future of Iraq. What Maliki gained from this visit to Tehran was Iran’s permission for him to seriously begin his political activities for the future elections.