“Hashd al-Shaabi has always responded to calls from top religious authorities to repel Daesh gunmen, so we will participate in the Anbar military campaign,” Ameri, who is currently commanding Hashd al-Shaabi forces, told Rudaw Monday using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State.
Ameri did not comment further on which religious leaders were calling for Shiite militias to help in Anbar province.
As the security situation in Anbar province becomes more severe, a group of 80 tribal sheikhs from the province urged Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week in a letter for more military aid to end violence against civilians perpetrated by ISIS.
“The sheikhs’ message was aimed at asking the Iraqi government to send more troops, especially from the Iraqi army’s Golden Forces units and Shiite militias of Hashd al-Shaabi,” Mohammed Hais, a tribal leader, said April 20.
According to Hais, a part of the Golden Forces and a team of Hashd al-Shaabi are already in Anbar province fighting the so-called Islamic State alongside Iraqi security forces.
Abadi announced earlier this month the Shiite militias will not take part in the battle for Mosul, but no official announcement has been made on the role of the group in the Anbar military campaign.
Elements of the Hashd al-Shaabi have been accused of rights violations, including the looting of people’s homes and business during the operation to retake Tikrit in March.
At least 60,000 Hashd al-Shaabi members are ready to fight alongside Iraqi security forces to expel the Islamic State from Anbar and Mosul provinces, a group spokesman has said.
“The Hashd al-Shaabi have become a strong and influential force to protect all Iraqi provinces against Daesh,” Karim Nouri, a spokesman for the militias, announced April 11.
“To liberate any specific place from the militants, the cooperation and participation of Hashd al-Shaabi is needed. Meanwhile, we are waiting for decisions from the commander of the military forces about whether we will participate in the current war in Anbar or the upcoming Mosul assault,” Nouri said.
