Social media imagery uploaded this week of Iran-backed Iraqi and Palestinian fighting forces allied with Syrian Arab Republic:
Iran-backed Kata'ib Sayyid Al-Shuhada fighting force members pose before just-visible dome on the shrine of Sayyidah Zainab near Damascus, Syria. Note the unfurled Iraqi national flag.
It appears to be a customary refrain for Iran-backed Shia fighting forces to claim "in defense of the shrine of Sayyidah Zainab," in similar manner to the culturally dissimilar refrain of American fighting forces waging war "in defense of freedom."
Claimed depiction near Aleppo of Iran-backed Iraqi fighting force member, beside Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") jeep-type vehicle equipped with M40 type recoilless gun. This type of tactical vehicle, which has been seen in quantity at Iraq, is now being observed in Syria, as well.
Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force members photographed near Aleppo, Syria. Note again, promotion of the Iraqi national flag.
Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force members photographed near Aleppo. Individual in foreground wears identification patch bearing the Iraqi national flag.
In the foreground can be seen SyAA 2S1 Gvozdika type 122-mm self-propelled howitzer.
Iran-backed Kata'ib al-Imam Ali fighting force member (individual appearing in all three related images), posing before ISIL flag wall painting, near Aleppo, Syria.
Image claiming to depict member of Palestinian "Jerusalem Commando Forces" near Aleppo, beside two recently Iran-supplied Safir ("Ambassador") jeep-type vehicles. Safir on right equipped with M40 type recoilless gun, on left equipped with 107 mm MRL.
Image claiming to depict members of Palestinian "Jerusalem Commando Forces" fighting on the side of Syrian Arab Republic, near Aleppo.
Image claiming to depict Iranian volunteer, possibly IRGC-QF, with T-72 type main battle tank. Note signage for Abtin, which is located roughly 20 km south of Aleppo. Syrian media reported the recapture of Abtin village on 16OCT15.
Still from video published 18MAY15 of Iranian Minister of Defense BG Hossein Dehqan and his Iraqi counterpart Minister of Defense Khalid al-Obeidi, at the entrance of the Iraqi Ministry Of Defense building in Baghdad.
The exchange between Iranian and Iraqi ministries of defense was said to be pre-scheduled but it didn't show on the faces at the Iraqi side of the table; they appear grim and in the midst of a national emergency, following the loss of a second provincial capital, Ramadi.
Photo depictions of IRGC-QF Commander MG Qassim Soleimani in Iraq are again materializing on social media; seen here with Abu Azrael, commander of the Kataib al-Imam Ali brigade.
COMMENTARY: For most of the Battle of Tikrit the pendulum of military influence in Iraq swung towards Iran. Then at the very end of that battle, it swung toward the United States. Now, with the fall of Ramadi, it appears to be swinging back in the direction of Iran.
Also on 18MAY15, Iraqi Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft were in Tehran while an Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force Boeing 747 was in Baghdad, ferrying Iranian military supplies to Iraq for war against ISIL. [source: Babak Taghvaee]
File photo: IqAF Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules transport aircraft
File photo: IRIAF Boeing 747-131(SF) [photo: Mehrad Watson]
Shi'ite paramilitaries have already played a central, if controversial, role alongside regular army units in recent months in the Iraqi government's first major successful campaign against Islamic State fighters, helping to capture Saddam Hussein's home town Tikrit on the Tigris River north of Baghdad.
So far, however, the government has avoided deploying the militia in the Euphrates River valley province of Anbar west of the capital, a vast Sunni tribal homeland that strides the main routes to Jordan and Syria. Baghdad considers Anbar the next target in its campaign to retake territory from the militants.
But with the army advance having faltered, officials are now speaking openly about dispatching the militia, organized under the umbrella of "Hashid Shaabi" - "Popular Mobilisation".
[…]
Baghdad-based analyst Jasim al-Bahadli, an expert on Shi’ite armed groups, said deploying the Hashid Shaabi to Anbar would make both military and political sense for Abadi.
"Excluding them will have undesired consequences and give an opportunity for the Hashid to show clear opposition to Abadi’s government," Bahadli said. "That is the last thing Abadi needs."
Hadi al-Amiri, a Shi'ite lawmaker who heads the most powerful armed faction within the Hashid Shaabi, dismissed the objections and said he had a mandate from eighty Anbar tribal leaders to join the fight in the province.
"We will fight in Anbar without waiting for permission from anyone," Amiri told state TV on Wednesday. "We will go, not as a favor, but as a patriotic, ethical and religious duty towards our people in Anbar."
COMMENTARY: There had been enormous political pressure on Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, wedged as he was between competing U.S. and Iranian interests during the Battle of Tikrit, with a battlefield victory deemed politically essential. That level of pressure is again on the prime minister, in addition to the pressure being applied by ISIL at Anbar.
Following the recent Salahaddin military campaign and the command dispute between Iran and the United States, it was reported another dispute arose between Iraqi and the American military leadership over the next objective in the war against ISIL. Iraq (and Iran had) wanted Anbar to be the focus of the next military campaign, while the United States preferred Nineveh.
With ISIL having managed to regain the initiative and the the Iraqi Army facing difficulties in its push at Anbar, the assistance of Iran-backed forces now appears being contemplated. This week Iraqi Defense Minister Khalid al-Obeidi publicly stated he’s received multiple requests from politicians and tribal leaders to send in the Shia militias.
Meanwhile there's been a noticeable uptick in reported U.S.-led tactical airstrikes being flown against ISIL targets in Iraq.
UPDATE: Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that Tikrit is now liberated from ISIL, state-run Iraqiya TV reported late afternoon Tuesday (2 PM GMT).
*****
Iraqi security forces have retaken the Salaheddin provincial government complex in Tikrit from ISIL insurgents, a significant advance in the battle to recapture the city, AFP reported today. Some major Shia militia groups, like Badr Organization, took part in the fighting today alongside the Iraqi forces. But Iran’s Quds Force advisers and personnel, including General Soleimani, and some other major Shia militia groups stayed away from the offensive in protest to U.S. airstrikes over Tikrit.
Gen. Soleimani, who planned and commanded the Battle of Tikrit that began on 2 March, and was frequently photographed at the frontlines near Tikrit, with the pictures widely published in the social media, has not been seen lately. His photos attending state functions in Iran emerged last week, suggesting that the general and probably his top advisers might not have returned to Iraq since the U.S.-led coalition began its airstrikes over Tikrit.
Photo credit: Iraqi security forces and militia fighters fly the country's flag on the provincial government building in Tikrit; 31 March 2015 (Twitter)
Still from Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) militia's stylized publicity video, depicting KH possession of QW-1M Vanguard man-portable air-defense system. Complete video HERE.
Considered source for KH possession of QW or Misagh type MANPADS includes their primary sponsor, Islamic Republic of Iran.
COMMENTARY: Iranian and Iraqi sources persist with claims of U.S.-led coalition "air drops" being undertaken to support ISIL. Publicity video of KH in possession of MANPADS may be seen within the context of further promotion of such narrative.
Still of Kata'ib Hezbollah operator of Chinese QW-1 Vanguard or Iranian variant Misagh-1 type MANPADS
Still of Kata'ib Hezbollah operators of of Chinese QW-1 Vanguard or Iranian Misagh-1 type MANPADS
Still of Kata'ib Hezbollah operator of QW-1M Vanguard MANPADS
Pose depicting spotter and operators of QW-1M Vanguard MANPADS
Left: Kurdish peshmerga militiaman in possession of what appears to be Iranian Shaher ("Witnessed") 14.5mm anti-material sniper rifle.
Iraqi militiaman in possession of Iranian Nasir 40mm automatic grenade launcher
Also of Interest:
Iran-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah flags mounted on U.S.-supplied to ISF Oshkosh Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement (MTVR) 6x6 heavy duty all-terrain vehicles and M198 155mm howitzer.
Latest publicity photo of IRGC-QF Commander Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani, beside U.S.-supplied to ISF M1117 Guardian Armored Security Vehicle (ASV).
Billboard image of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (left) and the late Ayatollah Khomeini, posted on the median of a busy road in Baghdad, Iraq, 18MAR15. [photo: VOA]
Eighteen stills in near order from a video published by Iraqi Ministry of Defense on 17MAR15, depicting Iraqi Army 5th Division with Iran-backed Bader Organization militia, leading up to and advancing toward Tikrit during the Salaheddin Campaign. (Complete video at end of post.)
M113A2 armored personnel carriers atop column of HMMWVs
HMMWV and Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) of Iraqi Army 5th Division
Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) among motorized brigade, Iraqi Army 5th Division
Iran-backed Badr Organization militiamen atop BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. Note: distinction for Badr Organization militia to be included in official Iraqi Ministry of Defense video.
Iran-backed Badr Organization militiamen, transported in medium duty truck transport
Following elements of Badr's drive-past, these U.S.-supplied up-armored HMMWVs
Iraqi Army firing of U.S.-supplied M198 155mm howitzers
Iraqi Army M198 howitzer crew, in action
Tracked loader improvised into Armored Combat Engineering Vehicle (ACEV)
Paused elements of motorized brigade, Iraqi Army 5th Division
Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle (ILAV) and M113A2 armored personnel carrier
Iraqi Army T-72M main battle tank
Turret markings denote 1-20 Tank Regiment, 5th (Iron) Mechanized Division
T-72M main battle tank, Iraqi Light Armored Vehicle and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle
Iraqi Army Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir al-Zaidi
Iraqi Army Aviation Comand (IqAAC) Mil Mi-35M attack helicopter
"Welcome to Tikrit" road sign plastered with Badr Organization sticker
