Pro-Iran Hashd Factions Continue To Defy Iraq’s PM

(Bas News)

Pro-Iran groups are in their seventh phase of attacks upon U.S. and foreign targets in Iraq. Originally these were organized by Tehran to get the Iraqi government to expel American forces. Then they increased in number when Baghdad and Washington opened talks for a new security agreement which Iran opposed. Now they are a direct challenge to the authority of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi as well who said he would stop such incidents from happening.

The latest attacks occurred on July 27 targeting two Iraqi military bases. Rockets landed on Camp Taji in north Baghdad and then later in the day on Camp Speicher in Salahaddin. Those were the seventh and eighth incidents by pro-Iran groups in July. Attacks during the month started on July 5 when the Green Zone was hit and rockets were found outside Camp Taji. Before that there were eight incidents in June, two in May, two in April, eight in March, three in February, and eleven in January. A variety of new groups have taken responsibility for these incidents on the Internet. They’re known as Katyusha gangs in the media. It’s widely believed they are connected to one or more pro-Iran Hashd units said as Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl Al-Haq or others.

The latest round of attacks began in June. That was when Iraq and the U.S. started negotiating a new security deal. Iran is against the U.S. presence in Iraq and originally pressured Baghdad to expel them in January. That led to the first round of attacks this year. As incidents picked back up during the summer Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kazemi said the perpetrators would be found. That led to a June raid upon the offices of Kataib Hezbollah in Baghdad based upon intelligence of an imminent attack. This was a warning by the premier that has been ignored. Hashd groups are only nominally under the authority of the government and now some of them are flaunting their autonomy and thumbing their noses at Kazemi.

Incidents by Pro-Iran Groups 2020

Date	Location
1/4/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
	Jadriya, Baghdad
	Balad Air Base, Salahaddin
1/5/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
1/8/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
1/12/20	Balad Air Baes, Salahaddin
1/14/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad
1/20/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
1/21/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
1/26/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
1/31/20	Qayara Base, Ninewa
2/13/20	K1 Base, Kirkuk
2/15/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
2/21/20	Makhmour Base, Irbil
3/1/20	Sadiq Base, Salahaddin
3/2/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
3/5/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
3/11/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad
3/14/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad
3/16/20	Besmaya Base, Baghdad
3/17/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
3/26/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
4/5/20	Burjisiya, Halliburton Camp, Basra
4/18/20	Nahrawan, Baghdad Chinese company
5/6/20	Baghdad International Airport
5/19/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
6/8/20	Baghdad International Airport
6/10/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
6/13/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad
6/14/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad
6/15/20	Rashidiya, Baghdad rockets discovered aimed at Camp Taji
	Baghdad International Airport
6/18/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
6/22/20	Baghdad International Airport, Baghdad
7/5/20	Camp Taji, Baghdad rockets discovered
	Green Zone, Baghdad
7/10/20	Canal St, Baghdad rockets discovered aimed at Green Zone
7/11/20	Convoy carrying US supplies attacked Muthanna Highway
7/19/20	Green Zone, Baghdad
7/24/20	Besmaya Base, Baghdad
7/27/20	Camp Speicher, Salahaddin
	Camp Taji, Baghdad

SOURCES

Al Aalem, “18 Iraqi militants killed in Syria with a coalition raid .. Two Americans and two Britons die in the bombing of Al Taji,” 3/12/20

Agence France Presse, “Iraq parliament demands US troop ouster after Soleimani killing,” 1/5/20

-"Rockets said to hit near US embassy in Iraq capital," 1/26/20

Aldroubi, Mina, “Iraqi militia leaders slam PM for raiding base of Iranian-backed group,” The National, 6/30/20

- "Three rockets strike near Iraq's Baghdad airport," The National, 5/6/20

Al-Aqily, Ali, Al-Jabiri, Jassim, “Oil Ministry, MPs condemn rocket attack on Halliburton camp in Basra,” Iraq Oil Report, 4/6/20

Asharq Al-Awsat, "Iraq Military: Rocket Hit Baghdad Green Zone, Minor Damages," 5/19/20

Bas News, "Multiple Rockets Hit Iraqi Base Housing US-led Coalition Forces," 7/27/20

- “Rockets Target Iraqi Base Housing US-led Coalition Forces,” 3/1/20

BBC, “Iraq base attack: Coalition and Iraqi troops hurt as Taji targeted again,” 3/14/20

Al Forat, “Urgent wounded 6, including two officers, by bombing the Balad base,” 1/12/20

France 24, "Rockets hit Baghdad’s Green Zone for the fifth time in ten days," 6/18/20

Frantzman, Seth, “Pro-Iran militias in Iraq burn images of Iraq prime minister, Israel,” Jerusalem Post, 6/29/20

Ghafuri, Lawk, “Iraq’s Kataib Hezbollah reiterates ‘readiness’ to continue armed fight against US troops,” Rudaw, 7/12/20

- “Kadhimi calls emergency security force meeting after Baghdad rocket attacks,” Rudaw, 6/17/20

Henna, Ayman, “Rockets hit Iraq’s Green Zone, US-led coalition leaves base,” Agence France Presse, 3/26/20

Al Hurra, "No human casualties … Two explosion at Speicher Air Force base in northern Iraq," 7/27/20

- "Rockets landed near the US embassy in Baghdad," 2/15/20

Al Jazeera, "Rocket attack hits northern Iraq base hosting US troops," 2/13/20

Kullab, Samya, "Rocket fired toward US Embassy in Iraq injures child," 7/5/20

Al Maalomah, "A mortar shell fell near the US drunken fence," 2/21/20

Al Mada, “Ghost factions attack the Green Zone, airports, and military headquarters,” 7/20/20

Mamouri, Ali, “Pro-Iran militia leader challenges Iraqi government attempts at restraint,” Al Monitor, 6/29/20

Al Masalah, "Insurgents burn 3 vehicles shipping for American forces in Al-Muthanna on the international highway," 7/11/20- "A Missile Hits The Green Zone / More," 6/10/20

- "A Missile Prepared To Be Launched Towards The Green Zone, Found And Dismantled East Of Baghdad," 7/10/20

NINA, "2 Katyusha Rockets Target The Green Zone Near The US Embassy," 1/9/20

- “The dialogue between Baghdad and Washington begins,” 6/11/20

- “Security media: Two Katyusha rockets landed in the vicinity of the Green Zone,” 3/17/20

-"Three soldiers were wounded by three mortar shells at Balad Air Force Base," 1/4/20

http://ninanews.com/Website/News/Details?key=805840

- "Two Katyusha Rockets Land Near The Chinese Company In Nahrawan, East Of Baghdad," 4/18/20

NRT, "Two Rockets Fall In Iraq's Taji Base, No Casualties Reported: News Agency," 6/13/20

- “Multiple rockets fall in Green Zone, Baghdad, air base – Iraqi military,” 1/4/20

- “Two protesters killed as Iraqi police struggle to stem unrest,” 1/21/20

Rudaw, "Rockets hit Taji military base:: Iraqi Media Cell," 1/14/20

Shafaaq News, "A missile landed in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport," 6/8/20

- "Two American and British soldiers were killed and 12 wounded in the bombing of the Taji camp," 3/11/20

Sherwani, Halgurd, "Rocket lands inside Baghdad International Airport," 6/23/20

Sky News Arabia, "Our correspondent: targeting the Qayara base, which includes American forces, south of Mosul, with three Katyusha rockets, without recording ay casualties," 1/31/20

- "Our reporter: Two rockets landed inside the Green Zone in Baghdad, and the American embassy sirens," 3/5/20

Al Sumaria, "Two Katyusha rockets fell within the approaches of the Green Zone," 1/20/20

TRT World, "Rockets hit Iraq base hosting foreign troops: military," 3/16/20

Wali, Zhelwan, "Two rockets hit Baghdad Green Zone as Allawi resigns," Rudaw, 3/2/20

Xinhua, "3 rockets land near U.S. embassy in Iraq's Baghdad," 7/19/20

- "4 Iraqi soldiers wounded in rocket attack on military base near Baghdad," 3/14/20