Hizballah Cavalcade: Roundup of Iraqis Killed in Syria, Part 1

NOTE: For prior parts in the Hizballah Cavalcade series you can view an archive of it all here.

By Phillip Smyth
Reports of Iraqi Shia involvement in the Syrian Civil War surged from January-May, 2013.[1] In March, the first photos and bios of Iraqi Shia killed during the fighting were released. Many of these announcements, photos of those killed, and other information received much broader coverage after it was spread on forums and Facebook pages. Thus far, the only two Iraqi groups to have announced they have lost members have been Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) and Kata’ib Hizballah (Hizballah Brigades).
It should be mentioned that Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq has not announced on its official webpage that it has had any “Martyrs” in recent months. Nevertheless, the group has set-up funeral processions for its dead in major Iraqi cities. In sharp contrast to Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq’s lacking web announcements; Kata’ib Hizballah updates its webpage regularly and in a more detailed fashion, regarding the fate of its members who have been killed and their funerals. Both Kata’ib Hizballah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, like their Lebanese counterpart, Hizballah, do not mention where these fighters were killed. Regardless, on most forums and Facebook pages, those who post comments are generally aware that the two groups are actively involved in fighting in Syria.

Created during the height of Coalition operations during the Iraq War, together, Kata’ib Hizballah and Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq have received extensive assistance from Lebanese Hizballah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp.[2] Both Iraqi groups are also major supporters of Iranian Revolutionary Islamist ideology (Wilayat al-Faqih).[3] Thus, it is extremely likely both organizations are acting as proxy forces for Iran. —

Name: Sa’ad Abed al-Qadr Abu Shamia’
Affiliated With: Kata’ib Hizballah
Death Announced: March 17, 2013
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Name: Ahmed Mahdi al-Shuweili (A.K.A. Qassim Abu Mahdi)
Affiliated With: Kata’ib Hizballah
Death Announced: March 15, 2013
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Name: Arfad Muhsein Al-Hamidawi (A.K.A. Abu Karar)
Affiliated With: Kata’ib Hizballah
Death Announced: April 2, 2013
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Name: Karar Abed al-Amir Fatlawi Abu Assad (A.K.A. Karar Fatlawi and Karar Abed al-Amir Aziz Abu Assad)
Affiliated With: Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas
Death Announced: Early April, 2013.
Facebook Page: https://ar-ar.facebook.com/pages/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%AC%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%AF-%D8%A3%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D8%A3%D8%B3%D8%AF/472898662780073
Note: Karar has one of the best developed narratives of any of the Iraqis killed. His story comes complete with numerous photos, a Facebook page, and supposed videos of him engaged in fighting. It is also important to note that he is the only one to have significant acceptance from supporters that he was a part of both Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and the Syria-based (members mainly come from Iraq and Lebanon) Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas.
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Name: Ahmed Farhud Hashim al-Zerjawi (A.K.A. Ahmed Farhud Hashim)
Affiliated With: Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq
Death Announced: May 2, 2013 (for funeral held in Najaf, Iraq)
Note: Iran’s Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is pictured on the left and Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Muhammed Sadiq al-Sadr is pictured on the right.
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 Name: Yahiya Sarmad Muhammed al-Fayli (A.K.A. Yahiya al-Fayli and Asu)
Affiliated With: Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq
Death Announced: Early May, 2013 (most forums list between May, 5-May,7)
Note: Iran’s Supreme Leader Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is pictured on the right and Iraqi cleric Grand Ayatollah Muhammed Sadiq al-Sadr is pictured on the left.
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[1] One example: Mariam Karouny, “Shi’ite fighters rally to defend Damascus shrine”, Reuters, March 3, 2013, https://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/03/us-syria-crisis-shiites-idUSBRE92202X20130303. [2] Elizabeth O’Bagy and Stephen Wicken , “Fact Sheet: Ali Musa Daqduq”, Institute For the Study of War, May 14, 2012, https://www.understandingwar.org/reference/fact-sheet-ali-mussa-daqduq. See also: Thomas Strouse, “Kata’ib Hezbollah and the Intricate Web of Iranian Military Involvement in Iraq”, Jamestown Foundation, Terrorism Monitor Volume: 8 Issue: 9, March 4, 2010, https://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=36109. [3] [Absolute] Wilayat al-Faqih (also known by in Persian as “Velayat-e-Faqih) is an ideological concept first drawn up by Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Khomeini. Khomeini posited that only learned clerics could rule over society and make political decisions. This was an extremely radical departure from the more traditional schools of Shi’ism. As a result, those currently following this ideology are religiously bound to follow the rulings of the Wali al-Faqih, who is currently Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. See also: Sam Wyer, The Resurgence of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, Institute for the Study of War, Middle East Security Report 7,December, 2012, https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ResurgenceofAAH.pdf.

al-Rāyyah Foundation for Media presents a new video message from Jaysh al-Ummah: "To the People of al-Aḥwāzī: Verily, With Hardship Comes Ease"

New statement from Ḥāmid Bin 'Abdullah al 'Alī: "On the Aḥwāzī Issue on the Occasion of a Conference in Support for the Occupied Spaces Held in Cairo on January 10, 2013"


Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Ḥāmid Bin ‘Abdullah al ‘Alī — “On the Aḥwāzī Issue on the Occasion of a Conference in Support for the Occupied Spaces Held in Cairo on January 10, 2013”
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To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

New statement from Ḥarakat Anṣār Iran: "Message to the Rawāfiḍ Government of Iran Regarding the Threats and Recent Abduction of Our Innocent People"


In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,
Yet again, the Rawafid regime and their intelligence services have committed another crime against Ahlus Sunnah in Iran. On Tuesday morning, the 24th of October 2012, the intelligence services of Iran marched into Meskutan Village (located in Nikshar City) with 12 vehicles and caused havoc and dismay. After kicking in doors and raiding houses, they abducted 4 innocent villagers; Kalandar Amiri, Muhammad Amine Amiri, Khair Muhammad Narui, and Amine Narui. Their current whereabouts remain unknown. Shortly after, a short and threating message was sent to the Mujahideen of Al-Ansar Iran, “If you don’t stop the operations against this regime, we will execute all the hostages.”
To all those involved in this abominable crime against the innocents, the Mujahideen of Al-Ansar Iran are sending you a stern warning. You all should know that capturing the innocent, putting difficulty on the innocent, and torturing the innocent, will not halt the operations of the Mujahideen. No, you have only given us more determination to fight you criminals, and we send you the glad tidings of a black eid, bi’ithnillah.
To Ahlus Sunnah of Iran and the innocent, we ask you not to involve yourselves in the affairs of the rawafid government and their military forces and not to reside in areas where the revolution guards, mersad, and other government officials gather. Our battle is only with the Rawafid government and their military forces, not with the civilians and innocent. Our goal is only to restore the honor of Ahllus Sunnah in Iran.
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Two new statements and a video from Ḥarakat Anṣār Iran

Video: Ḥamzah the Martyr

Statement 2: Operation Ra’ad 1!
We, the Mujahideen of Harakat Ansar Iran, proudly bring you the news of our first successful operation  from our new series of operations code named Ra’ad (operation storm). In this operation approximately 20 officers of the Iranian revolutionary guards (Pasadaran) were killed by an explosive-rigged van in the city of Chabhar, Iran while one brother Mujahid, Hamza Saravani, was martyred. The details of the operation are as follows:
The mujahideen came across a secret meeting of high ranking Iranian Revolutionary guard officers in the base of the Basij (civilian police) of Chabhar. These Revolutionary guard officers, who were previously conducting military drills, were from the Quds Karman and Sepah Salman Zahedan-21 brigades of the Iranian Revolutionary guards.
After considerable planning and preparation and by the grace of Allah, the Mujahideen planted an explosive rigged van outside the base of the Basij where the meeting was being held. They detonated the explosives once the meeting ended and the officers of the Revolutionary guards started to come out of the building. This explosion killed at least 20 enemy soldiers and officers.
After the success of this explosion the Mujahideen started to withdraw to their own base but encountered troops of the Iranian regime on their way back. A brave Mujahid amongst them, called Hamza Saravani went forth with a pre-planned fidaee (martyrdom) operation. In this operation he went towards a large mass of the regimes troops carrying weapons and an explosive vest and engaged them in a fire-fight before detonating his vest killing an unknown number of the regimes soldiers while distracting their attention from his brother Mujahideen who made their way back safely to our base.
This operation of Harakat Ansar Iran is in answer for the widespread killings of the children, scholars and other civilians of the Ahlus Sunnah of Iran. It is also to send out a message to the Iranian regime to stop killing our people, the Ahlus Sunnah of Iran, otherwise we will continue targeting the Revolutionary guards and will kill them wherever we find them and ‘Help is from Allah and victory is near’.
Statement 1: Speech By the Amīr Abū Yāsir Muskūtānī On the Eve of the First Successful Operation
In the name of the Lord of the Mujahideen.
All praises are due to Allah (3zza wajal), who through his mercy and through the sacrifice of a hero from the land of Baluchistan, who sacrificed for the sake of Allah and this Ummah, and through the hand of the Ahlus Sunnah and the Baloch people, showed the enemies of the Ahlus Sunnah of Iran that the students of our emir Abdul Malik Baloch are still alive. They showed them that, till now, the people of Baluchistan heed to the call for Jihad which Emir Abdul Malik Baloch helped to revive, and that they have not forgotten it, and that this principle, this Aqeedah of our religion is still alive.
My message to the Baluch people and the Ahlus Sunnah is that: Oh brothers, wake up from your sleep and neglect and join the caravan of the Muwahhideen and Mujahideen and defend your dignity and your religion. And I advise you, my brothers, not to be tricked by this regime and their deception. This regime is not our and your friend, in fact this regime is your biggest enemy who only seeks to destroy and corrupt your offspring. Oh people I swear to you by Allah, wake up from this negligence and sleep and defend your beliefs, principles and dignity.
Brothers, do not be fooled by the deception of the propaganda of the Rawafid regime, which has always made to you, empty and lying claims. After the operations of the Mujahideen, they collect some kids and women, to make the people believe that the brothers are attacking innocent civilians. But you have to know that, and be sure that, we are only defending the innocent people and our dignity. And that, only for this purpose, have we stood up and followed this path and that our war is against the regime and their agents alone.
And the last of my speech is (addressed) to the regime, (we tell them) that the soul of Jihad and the fight in Baluchistan have only surged and that in this path Mujahideen of Harakat Ansar Iran have firm determination. With their iron intention to destroy the regime to get the rights of Ahlus Sunnah and the people of Baluchistan and all the oppressed people of Iran, they promise that the regime will never feel comfort or security until this is achieved.
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New article from Abū al-Walīd al-Maṣrī: “End of the World in the Strait of Hormuz #3: Qandahar, A Lifeline in the Strait”

NOTE: For earlier parts in the series see: #2 and #1.


Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Abū al-Walīd al-Maṣrī — “End of the World in the Strait of Hormuz #3- Qandahar, A Lifeline in the Strait”
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To inquire about a translation for this article for a fee email: [email protected]

New article from Abū al-Walīd al-Maṣrī: “End of the World in the Strait of Hormuz #2: Iran is Surrounded by Revolution”

NOTE: Click here for part one in this series.


Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Abū al-Walīd al-Maṣrī — “End of the World in the Strait of Hormuz #2- Iran is Surrounded by Revolution”
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To inquire about a translation for this article for a fee email: [email protected]