Iraq: Iranian-Backed Proxies Very Likely Involved in Renewed Iraq Protests
Background: The Iraqi public on Friday, October 25 renewed their anti-government protests against corruption and Iranian involvement in Iraqi politics. A government committee found security forces killed 149 civilians in demonstrations between October 1 and October 6; “Officers and commanders lost control over their forces during the protests,” the committee concluded. [i] On October 7, Iraqi President Barham Salih stated, “Targeting peaceful demonstrators and security forces by live bullets, and targeting the media and journalists is unacceptable in Iraq that we have embraced and pledged to make it a democracy in which the rights and freedoms are respected.” [ii]
The Iranian-backed Hashd al-Shabbi (PMF) is very likely involved in subduing Iraqi anti-government protests in an effort to maintain leverage on the Iraqi government. Iran has regularly attempted to mitigate overt support to Iraq; however, Iranian-backed militia groups and proxies remain active in the country. On October 25, renewed protests began in Baghdad while demonstrations spread throughout southern cities including about 3,000 protesters storming a government building in Dhi Qar province and demonstrators setting fire to a Shia political party’s office in Muthanna province. [iii] On Friday evening, a government curfew was imposed in most localities experiencing violent protests. Open-source imagery obtained on Saturday, October 26 reveals probable Iranian proxy involvement in the Baghdad, Basra, and Nasiriyah protests.
On October 25, hundreds of Iraqi demonstrators attempted to enter the Baghdadi Green Zone in renewed anti-government protests. Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi assured the public the government will reorganize with a focus on the, “competencies and independence of ministers and increasing presence of women and youth.” [iv]
Later Friday, Iraq’s parliament convened an emergency session to address the 40 deaths in the October 25 demonstrations in and around Tahrir Square in Baghdad. [v]
On October 26, a member of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights of Iraq reported at least 48 people have died while Iraqi security forces have reportedly attempted to quell the Baghdad protests using live ammunition and tear gas. [vi]
Members of the Iranian-backed PMF militia have been seen firing live rounds into crowds in Baghdad and Nasiriyah, according to multiple open-source imagery reports.
Sources
[i]. “Iraqi Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Fresh Baghdad Protests.” BBC News. BBC, October 25, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50181212.
[ii]. Alkhshali, Hamdi, Jaide Garcia, and Aimee Lewis. “Chaos in Baghdad as Protesters Try to Storm Green Zone.” CNN. Cable News Network, October 25, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/25/middleeast/iraq-protests-deaths-intl/index.html.
[iii]. “Iraqi Police Fire Tear Gas to Disperse Fresh Baghdad Protests.” BBC News. BBC, October 25, 2019. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50181212.
[iv]. Alkhshali, Hamdi, Jaide Garcia, and Aimee Lewis. “Chaos in Baghdad as Protesters Try to Storm Green Zone.” CNN. Cable News Network, October 25, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/25/middleeast/iraq-protests-deaths-intl/index.html.
[v]. “Iraqi Forces Use Tear Gas in Baghdad as Protests Continue.” Al Jazeera News. Al Jazeera, October 26, 2019. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/10/iraqi-forces-tear-gas-baghdad-protests-continue-191026092400502.html.
[vi]. Alkhshali, Hamdi, Jaide Garcia, and Aimee Lewis. “Chaos in Baghdad as Protesters Try to Storm Green Zone.” CNN. Cable News Network, October 25, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/25/middleeast/iraq-protests-deaths-intl/index.html.
