Iran's Role in Shaping the Iraq War According to a U.S. Army Report

The Wall Street Journal reports that the release of an interrogation report of the leader of the Iraqi militia group 'Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq' reveals Iran's 'significant' role in the 'Iraqi civil war, training and arming Iraqi militants, and attacking American forces' in the country. This interrogation, the classified report of which was prepared by the U.S. Central Command, took place over the past decade when Qais al-Khazali, the leader of this Shiite militia group in Iraq, was captured by American forces. Coalition forces led by the U.S. accuse al-Khazali of organizing 207 attacks on their troops, which resulted in the deaths of five American soldiers. The Wall Street Journal notes that while this report was not released by the U.S. government, the newspaper managed to obtain a copy of it. Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is one of about 15 Shiite militia groups in the region, including Iraq and Syria, that are said to be supported by Iran and describe themselves as 'defenders of the shrine.' The Wall Street Journal writes that this group, whose military activity was authorized by Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi, the head of the Expediency Discernment Council, is among the groups that believe in 'Velayat-e Faqih' and the authority of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In August and October 2014, two groups of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq members traveled to Iran for military training and to meet with some senior clerics in Qom, which at the time received significant media coverage. The Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq group secured 15 seats in the Iraqi parliament in the May elections, where supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr, another Shiite cleric, achieved a significant victory. Although al-Khazali has publicly stated in recent months that he is not influenced by Iran, this report indicates that he acknowledged receiving support from the Islamic Republic during the attacks by Iraqi militants on American forces and their allies. Both Iran and the U.S. are competing to increase their influence in Iraq, with the Islamic Republic advancing its influence through the dominant Shiite majority. According to the report, Iran has not only been involved in 'military training and arming militants' in Iraq but has also pressured American soldiers to leave Iraq. Al-Khazali stated in his interrogation on June 18, 2007, that the training of Iraqi militants was conducted by the 'Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' of Iran at three bases, including the 'Imam Khomeini' base, which he himself visited. The report adds that 'Iranian and Lebanese' forces manage these training sessions, with Iranians specializing in 'conventional warfare' and Lebanese in 'urban and guerrilla warfare.' According to the interrogation transcript, Iranian soldiers explicitly stated which points should be targeted in Iraq and even suggested attacking British soldiers to pressure the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq. One reason for al-Khazali's arrest by the U.S. was the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq militants' attempt to take American forces hostage in Karbala, which resulted in the deaths of five American soldiers, and he stated in his interrogation that this was 'planned' by Iran. He was released in 2009 after promising that his forces would lay down their arms. He has admitted during repeated interrogations to traveling to Iran with Muqtada al-Sadr and later alone to receive 'financial, political, and military assistance.' According to the report, during their initial trips to Iran, they met with senior officials of the country, and afterward, Iranian officials discussed the necessity of Muqtada al-Sadr's participation in the Iraqi elections and the Shiite dominance over the country. As he stated in his interrogations, he also met and discussed with Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Al-Khazali has criticized Muqtada al-Sadr in many of his interrogations, accusing him of 'dealing' with Iran and being inclined to 'control Iran's financial support' for Iraqi groups. According to the report, he still maintains a close relationship with Iran, and although his group has weakened, given the recent fragile parliamentary elections in Iraq and the acquisition of 15 seats by his group, it is considered one of the potentially powerful factions in shaping the future government of the country.