Mahdi Army trains with Hezbollah

hist2004 · 08-21-2007, 11:01 AM

Mahdi Army trains with Hezbollah

Muqtada al Sadr admits direct involvement with Lebanese Hezbollah and, by default, Iran

Qods Force logo, click to view.

While recent press reporting has been skeptical of the Mahdi Army's involvement with Hezbollah and Iran, Muqtada al Sadr and members his Mahdi Army militia are openly admitting to their links with Hezbollah. In recent interviews with Britain's The Independent, Sadr clearly and proudly admitted to working hand in hand with Lebanese Hezbollah, which is an arm of Iran's Qods Force. "We have formal links with Hezbollah, we do exchange ideas and discuss the situation facing Shiites in both countries," Sadr told The Independent. "It is natural that we would want to improve ourselves by learning from each other. We copy Hezbollah in the way they fight and their tactics, we teach each other and we are getting better through this."

Sadr delivers sermon in Kufa after returning from Iran in May. [AP Photo] Click to view.

Several members of the Mahdi Army admitted to training with Hezbollah. "I was one of the experienced fighters from the Mahdi army to go for training there," Abu Muhannad, a Mahdi Army fighter told The Independent. "We learned how to take advantage of an armored vehicle's weakness, and how to wait and kill the soldiers who try to escape."

The Independent claims to have conducted the interview with Sadr in Kufa, the sister city of Najaf, where Sadr "often preaches fiery Friday sermons." Sadr, however, was last seen preaching in Kufa on May 25, after he returned from a four-month stay in Iran. Sadr has not been reported to have preached in Kufa since this incident, and the US military said Sadr returned to Iran in early July.

Imad Fayez Mugniyah

Hezbollah is essentially the Lebanese branch of Iran's Qods Force. Imad Fayez Mugniyah, Hezbollah's mastermind terrorist, is also a senior leader in Qods Force. Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, an expert on Hezbollah describes Mugniyah as standing "with one foot within Hezbollah (reporting to Nasrallah directly) and with one foot in Iran inside the architectures of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the al-Qods unit within the Iranian Pasdaran [Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps]." Dr. Ranstorp also said "there are two Iranian representatives (from the Iranian embassy in Beirut/Damascus) that provide a direct link on matters that require strategic guidance or Iranian assistance or arbitration" to Hezbollah's executive Shura, or council.

The US military has had proof of Hezbollah’s direct involvement with the Mahdi Army and the Iranian-backed Special Groups terror cells for several months. On July 2, Multinational Forces Iraq announced the capture of Ali Mussa Daqduq, a senior Hezbollah, inside Iraq. Daqduq is a 24-year veteran of Hezbollah, who has commanded both a Hezbollah special operations unit and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s security detail.

Ali Mussa Daqduq, click to view.

Daqduq had been operating inside Iraq for several years, and admitted to Hezbollah and Iran’s operations inside Iraq. His account is corroborated by interrogations of other Special Groups operatives and by information seized during multiple raids, including computers, diaries, and other documents. "In 2005, [Daqduq] was directed by senior Lebanese Hezbollah leadership to go to Iran and work with the Qods Force to train Iraqi extremists," said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, Multinational Forces Iraq spokesman. "In May 2006, he traveled to Tehran with Yussef Hashim, a fellow Lebanese Hezbollah and head of their operations in Iraq. They met with the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Iranian Qods Force Special External Operations." Daqduq made four trips into Iraq in 2006, where he observed the Special Groups operations.

Upon his return to Iran, Daqduq "was tasked to organize the Special Groups in ways that mirrored how Hezbollah was organized in Lebanon." Daqduq subsequently began to train Iraqis inside Iran. Groups of 20 to 60 recruits were trained in the use of explosively formed penetrators (EFPs), mortars, rockets, and sniper rifles, and instructed on how to conduct intelligence and kidnapping operations.

On August 19, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, the commanding general of Multinational Division Central, stated there are over 50 members of Iran's Qods Force directing, facilitating, or supporting attacks in his area of operations. Lynch stated most of the Qods force operatives move through the porous border in Wasit province.

Iraqi security forces and Multinational Forces Iraq began to zero in on the Qods Force supported units of the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups in the spring of 2007. Hundreds of "rogue" Mahdi Army and Special Groups operatives have been captured or killed during scores of raids against these Shia terror cells after Gen. David Petraeus identified the severity of the threat of these Iranian-backed terror cells.

Killed/captured members of the Secret Cell / Special Group networks. Click to view.

US and Iraqi forces conducted several major raids against the Iranian-backed Shia terror groups over the past two days. On August 20, special operations forces captured a leader of the Special Groups who also smuggles weapons, including armor-piercing EFPs, from Iran into Iraq. While conducting the raids near Qasirin, north of Baghdad, Coalition forces killed eight members of the Special Groups security team and captured two others. On August 19, Iraqi Special Forces, backed by US Special Forces advisers, killed 17 members of the Mahdi Army during two separate operations in Baghdad. Six members of the Mahdi Army were also captured during the operations against the Mahdi Army cells, which were involved in IED attacks and extrajudicial killings.

Other recent large-scale engagements against the Special Groups include a raid in Sadr City on July 2 that resulted in 30 Special Groups operatives killed and 12 captured; a June 30 raid, again in Sadr City, which resulted in 26 killed and 17 captured; and a series of raids in Maysan resulting in 20 operatives killed, six wounded, and one captured on June 18. The intensity of raids against the "rogue" Mahdi Army and Special Groups cells has increased since Operation Phantom Strike was announced. The Iranian-backed Shia cells are a main target of this operation.

Source:

Mu-Meson · 08-21-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Sadr "often preaches fiery Friday sermons."

I wonder if that would work for a legal defense in Europe/US. "Your Honour, its not hate speech or incitement to violence. It's fiery"

rlslow · 08-21-2007, 03:00 PM

Is anyone really even surprised that Muqtada al-Sadr is involved with Iran anyway? Really. I know relatively nothing about current events or Iraq's history, but this doesn't surprise ME. the basic facts about the situation make it a no-brainer, don't they?

hist2004 · 08-21-2007, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlslow

Is anyone really even surprised that Muqtada al-Sadr is involved with Iran anyway? Really. I know relatively nothing about current events or Iraq's history, but this doesn't surprise ME. the basic facts about the situation make it a no-brainer, don't they?

One would think, but there are many posts about how the US is erroneously blaming Iran or contriving evidence
in order to strike them.

Hist2004

rlslow · 08-21-2007, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hist2004

One would think, but there are many posts about how the US is erroneously blaming Iran or contriving evidence
in order to strike them.

Hist2004

so now then I guess we're erroneously saying that Sadr and the Mahdi Army have admitted to working with Hezbollah? ...liberals.

saBBBat · 08-21-2007, 09:45 PM

Hist2004, I always like your posts. What sites do you usually check out? Jamestown and such? I usually just read NYT and here.

Rictor · 08-21-2007, 10:57 PM

I like how they call Hezbollah an arm of the IRGC Qods Force. That's about as accurate as calling the former SLA an arm of the IDF.

BPEL · 08-22-2007, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hist2004

One would think, but there are many posts about how the US is erroneously blaming Iran or contriving evidence
in order to strike them.

Hist2004

U.S. is blaming Iran for all the screw ups in Iraq to Global Warming hist2004...

Might want to start looking for reports about how the Wahabis and the Sunni radicals from Saudi Arabia are actually the ones to blame, then I might read the posts

Snoshi · 08-22-2007, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rictor

I like how they call Hezbollah an arm of the IRGC Qods Force. That's about as accurate as calling the former SLA an arm of the IDF.

And it isnt?

Antonio_01 · 08-22-2007, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPEL

U.S. is blaming Iran for all the screw ups in Iraq to Global Warming hist2004...

Might want to start looking for reports about how the Wahabis and the Sunni radicals from Saudi Arabia are actually the ones to blame, then I might read the posts

I beleive that Shiiaa have special plans in the middle east

BPEL · 08-23-2007, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonio_01

I beleive that Shiiaa have special plans in the middle east

Aaaaaaaaand...what are those "special plans"?

Who is funding the "Madrassas"?
Who were AQs funded by?
Who bombed the embassies in Africa?
Who tried to shoot down the Israeli airliner in Africa?
Who attacked the destroyer in Yemen?
Who was behind 9/11?

Should I continue?

Look south of "EYE"raq and you will find your answer.

hist2004 · 08-23-2007, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BPEL

Aaaaaaaaand...what are those "special plans"?

Who is funding the "Madrassas"?
Who were AQs funded by?
Who bombed the embassies in Africa?
Who tried to shoot down the Israeli airliner in Africa?
Who attacked the destroyer in Yemen?
Who was behind 9/11?

Should I continue?

Look south of "EYE"raq and you will find your answer.

Who took over the American Embassy in 1979?
Who kidnapped and murdered Bill Buckley & Col Higgins?
Who drove a truck bomb into the Marine Barracks?
Who bombed the American Embassy in Beirut?
Who bombed the Khobar Towers in 1996 (members of Hizballah Al-Hijaz)
A U.S. federal court has found that the Khobar Towers bombing was authorized by Ali Khamenei, then leader of Iran.
Who hijacked TWA Flight 847

Should I continue?

Hist2004

BPEL · 08-23-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hist2004

Who took over the American Embassy in 1979?
Who kidnapped and murdered Bill Buckley & Col Higgins?
Who drove a truck bomb into the Marine Barracks?
Who bombed the American Embassy in Beirut?
Who bombed the Khobar Towers in 1996 (members of Hizballah Al-Hijaz)
A U.S. federal court has found that the Khobar Towers bombing was authorized by Ali Khamenei, then leader of Iran.
Who hijacked TWA Flight 847

Should I continue?

Hist2004

aaaand why do you think they took over the embassy? You forgot to mentioned the CIA took out a democratically elected Prime Minister of Iran in the 50s only to install a puppet who ran IRAN to his likeing...or maybe you forgot on WHAT LEAD to that event.

Buckly was kidnapped in Beirut by an organization calling itself the "Islamic Holy War". Higgins was kidnapped by "Islamic Militants". It could have been anyone and there is no concrete evidence it was the Hizb. It could have been the Amal or even the Mourabitoon for that matter.

Marine Barracks: and I quote "But we still do not have the actual knowledge of who did the bombing of the Marine barracks at the Beirut Airport, and we certainly didn't then" - Casper Weinberger Secretary of Defence. The U.S. has no idea who was behind the bombing.

U.S. embassy: A U.S. district judge put the blame on Hizbullah?? Come on...we need something better than a "District Judge". But the bombing occured in response to the Sabra Shatilla massacer by the phalangists in Beirut. The bombing could have been the PLO for that matter and no one knows again.

Khobar Towers: William Perry, who was the United States Secretary of Defense in the time that this bombing happened, in an interview in June 2007, said that "he now believes al-Qaida rather than Iran was behind a 1996 truck bombing at an American military base. By the way, did the Saudis provide any assisstance in the investigation? Probably NOT!

As for the TWA, I personally think the Hijackers were AMAL fighters and not Hizb. Amal was big in the early to mid 80s, they and Hizb were bitter enemies then. Berri who was the leader of the Amal movement was directly involved with the Hijackers.

my 3 cents

08-21-2007, 11:01 AM	#1
hist2004 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,052	Mahdi Army trains with Hezbollah Mahdi Army trains with Hezbollah Muqtada al Sadr admits direct involvement with Lebanese Hezbollah and, by default, Iran Qods Force logo, click to view. While recent press reporting has been skeptical of the Mahdi Army's involvement with Hezbollah and Iran, Muqtada al Sadr and members his Mahdi Army militia are openly admitting to their links with Hezbollah. In recent interviews with Britain's The Independent, Sadr clearly and proudly admitted to working hand in hand with Lebanese Hezbollah, which is an arm of Iran's Qods Force. "We have formal links with Hezbollah, we do exchange ideas and discuss the situation facing Shiites in both countries," Sadr told The Independent. "It is natural that we would want to improve ourselves by learning from each other. We copy Hezbollah in the way they fight and their tactics, we teach each other and we are getting better through this." Sadr delivers sermon in Kufa after returning from Iran in May. [AP Photo] Click to view. Several members of the Mahdi Army admitted to training with Hezbollah. "I was one of the experienced fighters from the Mahdi army to go for training there," Abu Muhannad, a Mahdi Army fighter told The Independent. "We learned how to take advantage of an armored vehicle's weakness, and how to wait and kill the soldiers who try to escape." The Independent claims to have conducted the interview with Sadr in Kufa, the sister city of Najaf, where Sadr "often preaches fiery Friday sermons." Sadr, however, was last seen preaching in Kufa on May 25, after he returned from a four-month stay in Iran. Sadr has not been reported to have preached in Kufa since this incident, and the US military said Sadr returned to Iran in early July. Imad Fayez Mugniyah Hezbollah is essentially the Lebanese branch of Iran's Qods Force. Imad Fayez Mugniyah, Hezbollah's mastermind terrorist, is also a senior leader in Qods Force. Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, an expert on Hezbollah describes Mugniyah as standing "with one foot within Hezbollah (reporting to Nasrallah directly) and with one foot in Iran inside the architectures of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the al-Qods unit within the Iranian Pasdaran [Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps]." Dr. Ranstorp also said "there are two Iranian representatives (from the Iranian embassy in Beirut/Damascus) that provide a direct link on matters that require strategic guidance or Iranian assistance or arbitration" to Hezbollah's executive Shura, or council. The US military has had proof of Hezbollah’s direct involvement with the Mahdi Army and the Iranian-backed Special Groups terror cells for several months. On July 2, Multinational Forces Iraq announced the capture of Ali Mussa Daqduq, a senior Hezbollah, inside Iraq. Daqduq is a 24-year veteran of Hezbollah, who has commanded both a Hezbollah special operations unit and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah’s security detail. Ali Mussa Daqduq, click to view. Daqduq had been operating inside Iraq for several years, and admitted to Hezbollah and Iran’s operations inside Iraq. His account is corroborated by interrogations of other Special Groups operatives and by information seized during multiple raids, including computers, diaries, and other documents. "In 2005, [Daqduq] was directed by senior Lebanese Hezbollah leadership to go to Iran and work with the Qods Force to train Iraqi extremists," said Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner, Multinational Forces Iraq spokesman. "In May 2006, he traveled to Tehran with Yussef Hashim, a fellow Lebanese Hezbollah and head of their operations in Iraq. They met with the Commander and Deputy Commander of the Iranian Qods Force Special External Operations." Daqduq made four trips into Iraq in 2006, where he observed the Special Groups operations. Upon his return to Iran, Daqduq "was tasked to organize the Special Groups in ways that mirrored how Hezbollah was organized in Lebanon." Daqduq subsequently began to train Iraqis inside Iran. Groups of 20 to 60 recruits were trained in the use of explosively formed penetrators (EFPs), mortars, rockets, and sniper rifles, and instructed on how to conduct intelligence and kidnapping operations. On August 19, Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, the commanding general of Multinational Division Central, stated there are over 50 members of Iran's Qods Force directing, facilitating, or supporting attacks in his area of operations. Lynch stated most of the Qods force operatives move through the porous border in Wasit province. Iraqi security forces and Multinational Forces Iraq began to zero in on the Qods Force supported units of the Mahdi Army and the Special Groups in the spring of 2007. Hundreds of "rogue" Mahdi Army and Special Groups operatives have been captured or killed during scores of raids against these Shia terror cells after Gen. David Petraeus identified the severity of the threat of these Iranian-backed terror cells. Killed/captured members of the Secret Cell / Special Group networks. Click to view. US and Iraqi forces conducted several major raids against the Iranian-backed Shia terror groups over the past two days. On August 20, special operations forces captured a leader of the Special Groups who also smuggles weapons, including armor-piercing EFPs, from Iran into Iraq. While conducting the raids near Qasirin, north of Baghdad, Coalition forces killed eight members of the Special Groups security team and captured two others. On August 19, Iraqi Special Forces, backed by US Special Forces advisers, killed 17 members of the Mahdi Army during two separate operations in Baghdad. Six members of the Mahdi Army were also captured during the operations against the Mahdi Army cells, which were involved in IED attacks and extrajudicial killings. Other recent large-scale engagements against the Special Groups include a raid in Sadr City on July 2 that resulted in 30 Special Groups operatives killed and 12 captured; a June 30 raid, again in Sadr City, which resulted in 26 killed and 17 captured; and a series of raids in Maysan resulting in 20 operatives killed, six wounded, and one captured on June 18. The intensity of raids against the "rogue" Mahdi Army and Special Groups cells has increased since Operation Phantom Strike was announced. The Iranian-backed Shia cells are a main target of this operation. Source:

08-21-2007, 03:00 PM	#3
rlslow Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Age: 23 Posts: 53	Is anyone really even surprised that Muqtada al-Sadr is involved with Iran anyway? Really. I know relatively nothing about current events or Iraq's history, but this doesn't surprise ME. the basic facts about the situation make it a no-brainer, don't they?

08-21-2007, 09:45 PM	#6
saBBBat Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 189	Hist2004, I always like your posts. What sites do you usually check out? Jamestown and such? I usually just read NYT and here.

08-21-2007, 10:57 PM	#7
Rictor Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 2,446	I like how they call Hezbollah an arm of the IRGC Qods Force. That's about as accurate as calling the former SLA an arm of the IDF.