Iraq
Hashd al-Shaabi fighters drive in a convoy in Iraq in an image posted on June 30, 2019. File photo: Hashd FB
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Two members of the Shiite Hashd al-Shaabi paramilitary forces were wounded on Friday in Saladin province by ordinance from an unknown aircraft. The US-led coalition has denied that its forces were involved in the incident.
"Martyrs Military Camp in Amirli area, affiliated with Brigade 16 of the Hashd al-Shaabi, was bombarded by grenades thrown from an unknown aircraft today at 1:15 and 2:20 [a.m.], injuring two," the Iraqi Security Media Cell confirmed on Friday.
An unnamed official told The Associated Press that there were two drone strikes. The first hit a headquarters of advisers, wounding two Iranians. While the second attack hit a weapons depot. The US-headquartered agency added that advisors from Lebanon were also present.
An Iranian commander previously said that Iranians had died in the area.
An Iranian commander previously said that Iranians had died in the area.
The US-led Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS denied that "coalition forces" were involved in the reported attack on Friday in Saladin.
"We are aware of the reports of an attack against the Iranians and a Popular Mobilization Force unit in Salah ad Din. Coalition Forces were not involved, and we have no further information at this time," the spokesperson for the US-led coalition tweeted on Friday evening.
Members of Brigade 16 of the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs), told Rudaw English on Friday they had no further information.
Amirli is located in Saladin province and 160 kilometers northeast of the Iraqi capital. It is in the Tuz Khurmatu district near the border with Diyala province.
Amirli, located in Iraq's Saladin Province, lies in north-central Iraq. Graphic: Google Maps
"We are aware of the reports of an attack against the Iranians and a Popular Mobilization Force unit in Salah ad Din. Coalition Forces were not involved, and we have no further information at this time," the spokesperson for the US-led coalition tweeted on Friday evening.
Members of Brigade 16 of the Hashd al-Shaabi, also known as the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMFs), told Rudaw English on Friday they had no further information.
Amirli is located in Saladin province and 160 kilometers northeast of the Iraqi capital. It is in the Tuz Khurmatu district near the border with Diyala province.
Amirli, located in Iraq's Saladin Province, lies in north-central Iraq. Graphic: Google Maps
The area not far from the border with Iran is a disputed territory claimed by Erbil and Baghdad. It long has been a spot of friction between Turkmen and Arab Shiites, and Kurds.
Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has given Hashd members until the end of July to incorporate the Army.
“We are marching forth with it and we seek to have practical achievements before the end of this month despite us mentioning in the governmental decree that it will take time and that all issues will be resolved in a gradual manner,” he said at a weekly press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday.
Hashd al-Shaabi was formed in 2014 based on a fatwa (religious decree) by Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highest Shiite authority in Iraq, when ISIS militants were advancing on the Iraqi capital.
Each paramilitary group has its own name. The most well-known among them include Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Badr Corps, and Hezbollah Iraq.
The Iraqi prime minister constitutionally is the commander-in-chief of all security apparatus in the country. Previous governments including predecessor Haider al-Abadi have struggled to bring Iraq's various security forces under a unified, coordinated, and organized command structure.
Qais al-Khazali, the secretary-general of the Hashd's Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, was disappointed with Abadi's recent comments criticizing Abdul-Mahdi's unification effort.
“Abadi has to know that the project to dissolve Hashd al-Shaabi or melting it ended with the end of his term, and such stances won’t help him regain the premiership,” Khazali tweeted on Thursday.
Abadi declared the Islamic State (ISIS) group defeated in December 2017; however, elements remain active, primarily in northcentral and western Iraq. The jihadists claimed responsibility suicide bombings in Baghdad which killed five people in predominately-Shiite areas on Monday.
Update: 10:21 p.m.Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi has given Hashd members until the end of July to incorporate the Army.
“We are marching forth with it and we seek to have practical achievements before the end of this month despite us mentioning in the governmental decree that it will take time and that all issues will be resolved in a gradual manner,” he said at a weekly press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday.
Hashd al-Shaabi was formed in 2014 based on a fatwa (religious decree) by Ayatollah Ali Sistani, the highest Shiite authority in Iraq, when ISIS militants were advancing on the Iraqi capital.
Each paramilitary group has its own name. The most well-known among them include Asaib Ahl al-Haq, the Badr Corps, and Hezbollah Iraq.
The Iraqi prime minister constitutionally is the commander-in-chief of all security apparatus in the country. Previous governments including predecessor Haider al-Abadi have struggled to bring Iraq's various security forces under a unified, coordinated, and organized command structure.
Qais al-Khazali, the secretary-general of the Hashd's Asaib Ahl al-Haq faction, was disappointed with Abadi's recent comments criticizing Abdul-Mahdi's unification effort.
“Abadi has to know that the project to dissolve Hashd al-Shaabi or melting it ended with the end of his term, and such stances won’t help him regain the premiership,” Khazali tweeted on Thursday.
Abadi declared the Islamic State (ISIS) group defeated in December 2017; however, elements remain active, primarily in northcentral and western Iraq. The jihadists claimed responsibility suicide bombings in Baghdad which killed five people in predominately-Shiite areas on Monday.
The US-led international anti-ISIS coalition has continued to assist Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). Most recently, the coalition conducted a series of strikes in Nineveh province, it confirmed on Monday. The operations in Nineveh and Anbar province are a part of the recently commenced 'Will of Victory' ISF-coalition operation.
Through its fight against ISIS, the coalition has been forbidden from aiding or assisting the Hashd despite the common enemy of ISIS. The coalition did not announce any operations in the Amirli area on Friday.
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