The Iran ‘land bridge’: A history in maps and reports (with links)
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Airstrikes in Iraq between July 19 and August 20 are attempts to interdict Iran’s “land bridge” that stretches across Iraq and Syria to Lebanon. This was […]
Tag Archives: PMU
Iran’s allies in Iraq face complex choice amid increasing “airstrikes”
Deputy commander of paramilitary forces blames US, while leadership considers next step after fourth mysterious explosion destroys munitions of Iran-backed militias By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A divide within the Popular […]
US Marine killed in Nineveh province brings spotlight on tensions, ISIS threat, in northern Iraq
Is Iraq’s Nineveh boiling over? A US service member was killed on a mission assisting Iraqi security forces By SETH J. FRANTZMAN A version of this appeared at The Jerusalem Post […]
Abadi tries to strong-arm the PMU, but why the sudden janus-face?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi reportedly lashed out at Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a key commander in the Hashd al-Shaabi, the Popular Mobilization Forces of mostly Shia […]
The June 18 airstrike on Iraq’s Kata’ib Hezbollah in Syria has been blamed on Israel, here’s how it unfolded
Breaking: Mystery surrounds overnight airstrikes on pro-Syrian regime fighters June 18, 0800 hours Jerusalem time After Syrian regime blamed US and US denied the attacks, questions remain over who carried […]
The Kurdistan crises and Saudi -Iraq relations: Unintended consequences or planned reduction in KRG power?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Renewed clashes at Altun Kupri between Kurdish Peshmerga and Iraqi Security Forces on October 20th led to more confusion in the ongoing crises that is reshaping […]
Reports: Hashd al-Shaabi and Iraq forces enter Sinjar
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN After the rapid conquest of Kirkuk on October 16th there are reports that the Iraqi Security Forces and particularly the Hashd al-Shaabi or Shia militias, have […]
BREAKING: Iran-backed Hashd al-Shaabi reaching Iraq-Syria border, implications?
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN Just after noon on May 29th the Hashd al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a mostly Shia group of militias that have been officially part of […]
Day 168: Chronicles of the battle for Mosul
By SETH J. FRANTZMAN ISIS is being defeated in Iraq. As Mosul falls to the Iraqi security forces after six months of conflict, many pieces are falling into place in […]
