Iran Uses Shiite Militias in Iraq to Exert Pressure on the US

The network of Shiite militias in Iraq, the 'Popular Mobilization Forces' ('Al-Hashd al-Shaabi'), has become one of the central tools through which Iran is trying to drag the United States and Arab countries into a more prolonged and expensive confrontation, according to a report published in the British newspaper 'The Telegraph'.

The militias, built over years by former Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani, were intended to fight Iran's enemies outside its borders and to distance the focus of fighting from the territory of the Islamic Republic. Six days after an Iranian ballistic missile attack was directed at American targets in Jordan, the United States and Saudi Arabia blamed the militias for the attack and carried out joint strikes against their bases in Iraq. According to the organization's announcement, at least 20 of its fighters were killed in the strikes, and dozens more were wounded.

The Shiite militias began to grow after the American invasion of Iraq in 2003, as Iran's influence on the political and security system in the country gradually expanded. Financial and military aid from Tehran turned the organization into a significant force, possessing an arsenal that includes long-range missiles and anti-aircraft systems. Alongside their military power, the militias also integrated into the political, economic, and social system in Iraq, through business ties and representatives in parliament and the government.

Iranian sources and analysts presented different assessments regarding their power and current role. One of them told 'The Telegraph' that it is an 'excellent asset, but difficult to control,' and that Iran uses them to 'exert pressure on the Americans' and expand the war. Another analyst from Tehran claimed that their main value lies in their ability to expand the conflict to Iraq and join additional players. According to him, if the United States decides to destroy the militias, it could be done within a week, but such a move would officially transfer the war to Iraq — a scenario that he claims serves the Iranian interest, because it increases the number of arenas and makes the continuation of fighting more expensive and complex.

Another Iranian source defined the militias as the 'backbone of the resistance forces in the region' and clarified that Iran will protect them as it protected 'Hezbollah'. He also noted that Iranian aid is already making its way to Iraq to allow the militias to defend themselves.

A public opinion poll published this week by the AP agency found that about two-thirds of adults in the United States believe that the war with Iran was not justified or worthwhile. Among these are the vast majority of Democrats and Independents, as well as about 37% of Republicans.

The 'Popular Mobilization Forces' were officially established in June 2014, after Ayatollah Ali Sistani issued a fatwa calling on Iraqis to carry arms against ISIS. Subsequently, the Iraqi parliament recognized the 'Popular Mobilization Forces' as an official military body, funded by the state budget and officially subordinate to the Prime Minister. According to estimates, the organization includes between 110,000 and 130,000 fighters operating in about 68 different groups. Some of the units are loyal to the Iraqi state, while other factions, led by 'Kataib Hezbollah', 'Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq', and 'Harakat al-Nujaba', are subordinate to the Iranian leadership and are defined by Washington as terrorist organizations.