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Militia Spotlight

Militia Spotlight uses open source monitoring to:
UNDERSTAND the objectives, structure, and activity of Iran-backed militias in Iraq and Syria;
EXPOSE militia information operations and disinformation campaigns;
IDENTIFY linkages between groups and with Iran to increase accountability; and
DENY anonymity and deniability to Iran-backed militias.

Visit the supplementary Militia Spotlight: Profiles hub.

Articles in this Series

Brief Analysis
How to Use Militia Spotlight
Militia Spotlight provides timely, high-quality evidence, analysis and contextualization of militia activities in Iraq and Syria, both within government agencies and outside them.
Feb 10, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Anti US
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Tansiqiya Signals Escalation Versus the United States
The Iraqi militia coordination committee is laying out its political and legal arguments for the removal of U.S. forces.
May 24, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Gaza Soleimani
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
How Iraqi Militias Are Exploiting the Gaza Conflict
Hamas's example could embolden Iraqi factions to accelerate attacks on U.S. facilities at home, as well as seek some reflected glory by claiming Syria-based attacks against Israelis.
May 16, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH Drone
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Kataib Hezbollah Leads Drone Warfare Inside Iraq
The group is employing sophisticated drone capabilities against U.S. airbases in Iraq, mirroring tactics and systems used in Yemen.
May 14, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
Kawader
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Distinguishing Kawader Hezbollah al-Qudama and Kataib Hezbollah
Nouri al-Maliki is gathering various Iraqi resistance figures who fought both Saddam and the coalition, but this marginal "old timer" party is not the same as Kataib Hezbollah, which has yet to show its hand in parliamentary politics.
May 6, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Natanz
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
How Iran Employed Iraq's Muqawama in Its Post-Natanz Response
Militias falsely claimed attacks against Israeli and U.S. targets in retaliation for the nuclear incident, underlining how Tehran directs and coordinates each proxy's kinetic and information operations in a centralized manner.
May 3, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
RA
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Rijal Allah Claims the Baghdad Airport Attack
A new online facade group has undermined Kataib Hezbollah's conspiracy-laden narrative blaming the April 22 rocket strike on Iraqi Kurds.
Apr 24, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
MD
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Rising Profile of Fasail al-Muqawama al-Duwaliya in Convoy Bombings
The group has intensified its claims of convoy attacks, shifting from Anbar-focused roadside bombings to incidents on the Kuwaiti border.
Apr 2, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
QJ
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
A Return to the Convoy Strategy and Projection of Unity
The muqawama are trying to put squabbles over the utility of convoy bombings behind them and are making a concerted attempt to demonstrate inter- and intra-group unity.
Mar 15, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight
KH
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
KH Publicly Leads Calls for Escalation Against U.S. Presence
After being struck by U.S. forces, Kataib Hezbollah dropped the pretense of the coordination committee and acted unilaterally.
Mar 7, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Erbil hit
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Erbil Rocket Cell: Insights from Haidar Hamza al-Bayati's Confession
The video offers potentially significant insights into the detainee and his description of being recruited by Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada.
Mar 7, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight
Sabereen News Logo
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
The Tuna and Noodles Saga: Findings from a War of Words Between Militias
Bitter squabbles between the social media platforms of two competing Iraqi militias offer insights into the movements and their relationship.
Mar 3, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Nujaba flags
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Harakat al-Nujaba Identifies with the Iraqi Resistance Coordination Committee
What to make of HaN spokesperson Nasr al-Shammari's admission that his group is a member of the top militia committee?
Feb 28, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Figure 1: Qais al-Khazali’s interview with iNEWS TV, June 1, 2021.
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
In Their Own Words: Senior Leaders Admit to Membership in the Tansiqiya
Qais al-Khazali, Muhammad Mohi, and Nasr al-Shammari have all provided televised prima facie evidence of their groups' involvement in acts of anti-coalition terrorism.
Feb 28, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight
Pylon
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
“Pylon-Gate”: Reconstruction of a Muqawama Disinformation Operation
The KH-affiliated media group Unit 10,000 planted disinformation about a nonexistent U.S. airstrike, stoked the story, and then tried to remove its fingerprints from the original "fake news."
Feb 12, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight

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