Hezbollah leader’s confessions renders difficult predicament for Iran

July 2016

Lebanese Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah on June 24^th said he is not concerned of U.S. banking sanctions, and the sanctions and banking/financial restrictions imposed by the U.S. have no impact on this group’s activities as all of Hezbollah’s budget is provided through Iran. This speech gained widespread coverage in a long slate of Arab media, and can lead to a major predicament for the Iranian regime.

Iran funneling sanctions relief money for terrorists

July 2016

In late May 2016, Adam Szubin, the acting US Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said his country in cooperation with its allies and partners is attempting to limit Hezbollah financial relations. A bill was passed in the U.S. back in December 2015 imposing strict punishment on any international financial support to Hezbollah and any individual or entity that provides financial support for this group. This law sparked an unprecedented dispute between Hezbollah and Lebanese banks. The Lebanese Hezbollah, designated as a terrorist group by the U.S., has widespread political influence in Lebanon and its military branch plays an important role in the war in Syria. The Lebanese Central Bank and American officials have said this bill does not target ordinary Lebanese citizens or the Shiite community of this country that supports Hezbollah.

Iraqi Army, police clashing with Quds Force-associated Hezbollah militants in Baghdad

One day after 18 Turk nationals were abducted from a stadium construction site in Baghdad’s Sadr City, carried out on Wednesday, September 2^nd by a group of Katayeb Hezbollah militants wearing SWAT uniforms who raided the site with 20 bullet-proof, double axes vehicles, Baghdad Operations Command issued a statement saying:

Hezbollah terrorists arrested in Kuwait

A report wired by Reuters indicated Kuwait authorities had discovered a large amount of weapons and ammunition hidden under a house adjacent to the Iraqi border belonging to a terrorist cell. These individuals were planning and plotting to destabilize Kuwait. The Kuwaiti [H1] Interior Ministry said the arrested individuals admitted they were connected to the Lebanese Hezbollah.

Trash Uprising in Lebanon (City Trash or Political Trash?)

The current government in Lebanon has become so weakened that it is not even able to round up the city trash in its own capital. This is what demonstrators are saying these days in Beirut.

Kuwait and Iran’s terror attack

Following the terror attack on a mosque in Kuwait that left many killed and injured, authorities across this country were able to discover and confiscate a large cache of weapons, ammunition and explosives in a village adjacent to the Iraq border, and then go on to arrest the terrorist cell involved in this issue. Kuwait security said this is was the largest terrorist cell in Kuwait and they were under surveillance for 6 months that led to the confiscation of a significant amount of explosives. The Kuwaiti public prosecutor has now launched an investigation regarding this terror cell, first looking into any relations with Lebanese Hezbollah.

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.

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.

Quds Force using militants in Iraq – Part 1

1. History of using militant forces in al-Anbar Province

- Dispatching militants to the al-Anbar front dates back to mid-January 2014. After Maliki’s classic army and police forces suffered a large number of casualties and lost their spirits for urban warfare in their initial attacks against cities and towns in al-Anbar, the Quds Force began to take action and ordered its associated militias, including Asaeb al-Haq and Katayeb Hezbollah, along with Badr forces, to rush to the support of Maliki’s army and police units in al-Anbar.