The Mukhtar Army is a Shi'a Iraqi militia group formed in February 2013 by Wathiq al-Battat, a former senior official in the Hezbollah Brigades.[2] Al-Battat pledged his loyalty to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[3] Al-Battat was arrested briefly on 2 January 2014[4] but was released despite still being a fugitive. He was allegedly "accidentally assassinated" at point-blank range on 20 December 2014 at a fake police checkpoint in eastern Iraq by an unknown party[5][6] but has since been reported alive and has appeared in the public eye.[7][8]
| Mukhtar Army | |
|---|---|
| جيش المختار | |
 The flag of the Mukhtar Army. The flag is identifical to the flag of Hezbollah, except for the text under the emblem, with the Muktar Army flag featuring the line "النهضة الاسلامية في العراق" (The Islamic Renaissance in Iraq). | |
| Leaders | Wathiq al-Battat † |
| Dates of operation | February 2013 – present |
| Ideology | Shia Islamism Wilayat al Faqih |
| Allies |  Iraq Iran (Claimed by Battat, denied by the IRGC)[citation needed] |
| Opponents |  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant People's Mujahedin of Iran Free Iraqi Army |
| Battles and wars | Syrian Civil War[1] |
Formation
editOn 4 February 2013, al-Battat announced the formation of the Mukhtar Army with the stated purpose of protecting Iraq's Shi'as, and to assist the government in combating terrorism.[9] He stated that the Mukhtar Army would prevent any Sunnis controlled by al-Qaeda or other militant sectarian groups from attempting to topple the Shi'a-led government in Iraq.[2][10]
In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Al-Battat said that the group receives weapons and other support from Iran,[11] and is advised by the Quds Force, a special unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) that oversees its external operations.[2] He describes himself as a follower of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran.[11]
An IRGC official dismissed suggestions it supports any armed group in Iraq, saying that such "claims are aimed at defaming the Guard. We do not see any reason to respond to such baseless claims."[11] A spokesperson for the Hezbollah Brigades also distanced his group from al-Battat and the Mukhtar Army, stating that al-Battat "is not affiliated with the Hezbollah Brigades in any way whatsoever."[12]
Ahmed Abu Risha, the head of the Sunni Anbar Salvation Council, argues that the Mukhtar Army was created with Iraqi government consent to silence Sunni-led protests that began in December 2012.[9]
A few days after the group's formation, the Iraqi government issued an arrest warrant against al-Battat.[10] Speaking on 9 February 2013, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called on Iraqi citizens to cooperate with security forces in disclosing the whereabouts of al-Battat in order to arrest him as soon as possible.[12]
Activities
editAl-Battat stated that the Mukhtar Army was behind the rocket and mortar attack on 9 February 2013 that killed seven members of the Iranian opposition group Mujahedeen-e Khalq (MEK) housed at Camp Liberty in Baghdad. He threatened more attacks against the MEK until they leave the country.[11]
In mid-February, threatening flyers signed by the Mukhtar Army were placed at Sunni households in Baghdad's Jihad neighborhood. The leaflets warned "enemy" Sunnis to leave now or face "great agony". The Mukhtar Army denied responsibility for the flyers.[2] The Mukhtar Army has also threatened that it will "liberate" Saudi Arabia[13] and target the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port being constructed in Kuwait.[14]
On 21 November 2013, the Mukhtar Army claimed responsibility for six mortar bombs fired into northern Saudi Arabia that landed near a border post. Al-Battat said, "The goal was to send a warning message to the Saudis to tell them that their border stations and patrol are within our range of fire." He also said he wanted Saudi Arabia to stop "interfering" with Iraqi affairs.[15]
Statements
editIn an interview aired on 5 February 2013 on the Iraqi Al Sharqiya television channel, al-Battat stated, "Allah willing, we shall annihilate the infidel, atheist Saudi regime, and all the regimes that wage war against Islam, incite their peoples to wage war against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, and support Israel and America.[16]
In an interview aired on 23 October 2013 on the Iraqi Al Sumaria television channel, al-Battat stated, "When it comes to politics, our authority is the leader, Ali Khamenei... I am proud to be a foot soldier in the army of the leader, Sayyed Khamenei." He added, "What is important is the common enemies – the Americans and the Israelis. We must confront them with all our force. After we annihilate the Jews, we can deal with domestic matters.[3]
References
edit- ^ "حزب الله العراقي ذراع إيرانية لا نعرف عنها الكثير". 25 December 2014. Archived from the original on 25 July 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d "Return of sectarian threats in Iraq raises alarm". Associated Press. 25 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 March 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Iraqi Shiite Militia Leader Watheq Al-Battat: I Would Support Iran in a War against Iraq". Middle East Media Research Institute. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
- ^ "Iraqi security forces fight militants in Anbar province". BBC. 2 January 2014.
- ^ Wyke, Thomas (2014-12-22). "Senior Hezbollah leader Wathiq al-Battat 'assassinated by accident' in Iraq". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ "Leader of Iranian-backed militia killed in eastern Iraq". Long War Journal. 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2018-03-12.
- ^ "Iran's National Council for Peace: The New Kids on the Opposition Bloc". IranWire. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ The Jundallah Group: History and Activities. YouTube (in Arabic). The Source. July 12, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2024.
- ^ a b "Iraq's Hezbollah forms new militia to frighten protesters: Sunni leader". Al Arabiya. 27 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 28 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Briefing: A guide to defusing sectarian tensions in Iraq". Integrated Regional Information Networks. 13 February 2013.
- ^ a b c d "Shiite Militant Threatens Iranian Exiles in Iraq". Associated Press. 26 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Iraqi Shi'i militant group distances itself from leader's newly-formed militia". Al-Mada. BBC Monitoring. 9 February 2013.
- ^ "Gulf armies wrap up joint military drill, stress capability to deter enemies". Al Arabiya. 27 February 2013.
- ^ "Iraqi faction threatens Kuwait port". Kuwait Times. 24 February 2013. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 1 March 2013.
- ^ "Iraqi group says fired shells at Saudi Arabia". Al Jazeera. 21 November 2013.
- ^ "Hizbullah of Iraq Sec.-Gen. Watheq Al-Battat: We Shall Annihilate the Infidel Atheist Saudi Regime". Middle East Media Research Institute. 5 February 2013.