Abbas Combat Division News Today

This year has seen a massive increase in the training of Iraqi militia officers at Defense Ministry academies, and a dedicated PMF training college might be developed under expanded legislation.

As Muqtada al-Sadr issues demands to Hadi al-Amiri, fears grow deadlock will lead to Shia-on-Shia fighting and risk Sistani's wrath

Abu Fadak and Akram Kaabi seem to have inherited the PMF and "resistance" parts of the late militia leader's portfolio.

A In Iraq’s 2006 Sunni-Shiite civil war, 268 armed organizations fought. Some were born out of it, and some had been established before it erupted. Some of those organizations’ include the Mahdi Army, the Mukhtar Army, the Islamic Virtue Party, the League of the Guide, the Soldiers of Heaven, League of the Righteous, Harakat Thaer Allah (God’s Vengeance Movement), Lajna al-Qasas al Adel (Just Punishment Committee), the Jerusalem Forces, the Earthquake Brigade, the 1920 Revolution Bri...

Pro-Iran line of Iraqs Hashed challenged by internal dissent A growing fissure pits the vast Iran-aligned wing of the Hashed al-Shaabi network against four factions linked to the shrines of Iraq’s twin holy cities, Karbala and Najaf. Sunday 13/12/2020 Supporters of Hashed al-Shaabi demonstrate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on October 17, 2020. (AFP) BAGHDAD – Around the corner from Iraq’s holiest shrines, a years-long struggle over allegiances and resources is coming to a head —...

Iraq ‘shrine factions’ look to peel away from Hashed By AFP - Dec 12,2020 - Last updated at Dec 12,2020 In this file photo taken on June 14 mask-clad members of the Hashed Al Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary force take part in a military parade in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, marking the sixth anniversary of its founding after Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani called to defend the country from the Daesh (AFP photo) NAJAF, Iraq — Around the corner f...

Sunday, 13 December, 2020 - 05:30 A photo of Iraqs top Shiite cleric, Ali Sistani, in Karbala, Iraq. AFP file photo Asharq Al-Awsat Around the corner from Iraqs holiest shrines, a years-long struggle over allegiances and resources is coming to a head -- threatening a dangerous schism within a powerful state-sponsored security force. The growing fissure pits the vast Iran-aligned wing of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) networ...

NAJAF: Around the corner from Iraq’s holiest shrines, a years-long struggle over allegiances and resources is coming to a head — threatening a dangerous schism within a powerful state-sponsored security force. The growing fissure pits the vast Iran-aligned wing of the Hashd Al-Shaabi network against four factions linked to the shrines of Iraq’s twin holy cities, Karbala and Najaf. Those factions, dubbed “the Shrine Hashd” and comprising around 20,000 active fighters, held their first ...

Iraq ‘shrine factions’ look to peel away from Hashed By AFP - Dec 12,2020 - Last updated at Dec 12,2020 In this file photo taken on June 14 mask-clad members of the Hashed Al Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary force take part in a military parade in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, marking the sixth anniversary of its founding after Iraq’s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani called to defend the country from the Daesh (AFP photo) NAJAF, Iraq — Around the corner f...

Splits emerge among Iraq’s Shia militias over closeness to Iran 10 Dec 2020 Topics Insight Four armed groups loyal to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani have broken away from the Popular Mobilisation Forces over concerns that Iran wields disproportionate influence over the umbrella group of militias. Forces loyal to Iraq’s most senior cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al Sistani, are breaking away from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) amid tensions between rival Shia militias over Iran’s influ...