IRGC-QF commander and PMF operations chief at Imam Husayn Shrine in Iraq

 

IRGC-QF Commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani (in blue civvies) with Iran-backed PMF Operations Chief Abu Mahdi al Muhandis (in light olive shirt), seen at the Imam Husayn Shrine in Karbala, Iraq. Claimed photo date is 21AUG15.

Soleimani's depicted demeanor appears refreshed coming from the renowned Shia shrine, access to which had been a very high-casualty goal of the IRGC and a youthful Soleimani during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988). Operation Iraqi Freedom inadvertently served to realize this much coveted Iranian war aim.

Last year, Iraqi Defense Minister Khaled al-Obeidi estimated the number of pilgrims in the city of Karbala for the annual Arbaeen commemoration reached a record 17.5 million, by far the biggest majority of non-Iraqis being Iranian. It's easy to see why popular support inside Iran for the war against ISIL remains high, across the breadth of Iran's relevant political spectrum.

Earlier this week in Tehran, ISCI President Seyed Ammar al- Hakim praised Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani's fatwa and the creation of PMF, which he states was helped by Iran, specifically identifying IRGC-QF Commander Soleimani for his role in "Iraq's recovery." [source: ABNA] Sistani is Iranian-born.

Iran foreign minister and IRGC Quds Force commander in Iraq - Updated

[Updated to include FM Zarif's visit to Baghdad, 07:54 on 28JUL15]

During the last stage of his post-JCPOA Gulf diplomacy tour, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his diplomatic delegation arrive evening of 26JUL15 at Najaf International Airport in Iraq.

Zarif's aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran Government Boeing 737-286/Adv, reg. EP-AGA (cn 21317/483). First open-source photo of this VIP aircraft in service since very recent D-check by Iran Air and repainting in new style of government livery [see HERE].

Zarif's itinerary includes visits to the Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, and shrines of Imam Ali and Imam Hussein, and meeting with "Big Four" Grand Ayatollahs Sistani, Hakim, Fayyadh and Basheer Najafi (see below).

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 26JUL15 at the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, Iraq

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on 26JUL15 praying at the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, Iraq 

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Sayyed Hashem Nizar, Secretary General of the upper threshold of the sacred at Imam Ali shrine

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Muhammad Sa'id al-Tabataba'i al-Hakim. The Grand Ayatollah's second cousin, Sayyed Ammar al-Hakim leads the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, one of the largest Shia political parties in Iraq.

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Mohammad Ishaq al-Fayyadh. Born in a village in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan to Hazara parents, this Grand Ayatollah holds Iranian and Afghani citizenships

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Grand Ayatollah Sheikh Basheer Hussain Najafi

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and diplomatic delegation arriving 27JUL15 at Baghdad International Airport

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq Prime Minister Haider Jawad Kadhim Al-Abadi, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Iraq President Muhammad Fuad Masum, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif with Seyed Ammar al-Hakim, President of Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, on 27JUL15 in Baghdad.

Photo appearing this week on social media depicting IRGC-QF Commander Qasem Soleimaini, in Baghdad, with Popular Mobilization Force Commander Abu Mahdi al Muhandis and combat leaders from Iran-backed Kata'ib Jund al-Imam. Note in background flags of Kurdistan and Patriotic Union of Kurdistan. Location possibly Sulaymaniyah.

Photos: Mehr News Agency, Islamic Republic News Agency

Millions of Shia Pilgrims Gather in Karbala to Commemorate Arbaeen

Millions of Shia pilgrims on Saturday gathered in Karbala to commemorate the Arbaeen, marking the passage of 40 days following the martyrdom of Imam Hossein and 72 companions in the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The Shias lost the battle to the army of Yazid I, the Caliph of the Umayyad. The worshippers marched for three days from the Shia holy city of Najaf to reach Karbala and Imam Hossein Shrine on Arbaeen.

Iraqi police said a mortar attack killed one person and wounded four others near Karbala on Friday. There are fortunately no reports of major clashes or casualties during today’s ceremonies. This year’s Arbaeen commemorations come as the Islamic State controls large portions of Anbar province, bordering Karbala. ISIL considers Shias to be heretic and has targeted Shia community in Iraq.

Photo credit: Shia faithful pilgrims gather between the holy shrines of Imam Hussein and of Imam Abbas, in the background, during the preparations for the commemoration of Arbaeen in the Shia holy city of Karbala; Friday, 12 December 2014. (Hadi Mizban/AP)

Tensions High in Karbala Following Sarkhi Clashes

Tensions remained high in Iraqi holy Shia city of Karbala today in the wake of clashes on Wednesday between followers of Shia cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi, who accept him as a Grand Ayatollah, and Iraqi military and security forces after Baghdad sought to arrest Sarkhi, Ashrq Al-Awsat reported. Local media said around 45 people were killed in Wednesday’s fighting.

Iraqi security forces also blew up Sarkhi’s headquarters and its Hosseiniya mosque complex, fearing they were booby-trapped, and the controversial cleric is now believed to have fled the city. Karbala Governor Aqil Al-Tarihi told reporters on Thursday that the security forces have arrested 350 of Sarkhi’s followers.

“Sarkhi is not a religious cleric, and when his followers picked up arms and attacked citizens, it forced us to launch the operation to arrest them. We will not allow the presence of any of Sarkhi’s followers in Karbala,” Al-Tarihi said. (Ashrq Al-Awsat, 4 July)

Sarkhi issued a statement later saying security forces provoked the clashes.

“These actions are the actions of militias and the result of my rejection of partition and sectarianism that has killed the people of Iraq. Their action is evidence of their failure and lack of steadfastness towards patriotic action,” Sarkhi said in his statement.

The government claims that Sarkhi and his followers are attempting to create Shia-Shia sectarian conflict in Karbala and southern provinces as an extension of Islamic State’s advances in western and northern Iraq. Al-Sarkhi's pro-Arab, anti-Iran and anti-Grand Ayatollah Sistani views do find common cause with the Sunnis, a matter of great concern to Baghdad.

Al-Sarkhi’s forces, the so-called Hossein Army, have reportedly reconvened at his stronghold in Nasiriyah in the southern Iraqi province of Dhi Qar.

Top photo: A burnt poster of Shia cleric Mahmoud al-Sarkhi at a checkpoint in front of his headquarters in Karbala, 2 July 2014. (Ahmad al-Husseini/AP/Ashrq Al-Awsat)

Bottom photo: ISF deployed during clashes with followers of al-Sarkhi, Karbala. (Mohammed Sawaf/AFP)

Iranian-Iraqi charity hospital in Karbala, under construction

Iranian-Iraqi Shia Islamic charity hospital being constructed in Karbala, by Ayatollah Al-Qazwini's established DFR charity. Ayatollah Al-Qazwini has previously resided in the Islamic Republic of Iran as well as the United States, prior to returning to Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Note fortified perimeter, rolled razor wire and what appears to be armed construction guards

Artist's rendering of completed Imam Al-Hujjah Hospital in Karbala

 

More recent photo of a completed hospital room

Photos: DFR charity

Ahmadinejad: Baghdad and Tehran have 'exceptional' security role to play in Mideast region

Ahmadinejad.

In a visit to Baghdad Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad proclaimed that Tehran and Baghdad have an "exceptional" security role to play when it comes to the regions security.

"We carry a joint message, which is a message of progress and stability and security, and also a message of peace," he was quoted as saying after talks with the Vice President of Iraq Khudayr al-Khuzaie. (Middle East Online, July 19 2013)

He also stated that, “The prosperity, progress, and security of Iraq are also Iran’s prosperity, progress, and security." (Tehran Times, July 19 2013)

The red carpet was rolled out for his visit.

According to a statement on Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's website the Iraqi Prime Minister told Mr. Ahmadinejad that "Iraq supports peaceful solutions for all the problems in the region."

He went on to tell Ahmadinejad that Iranian companies are welcome to participate in the reconstruction of the Iraqi state.

Following these meetings Ahmadinejad visited the Shiite holy shrines in the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Najaf. (ABC News, July 19 2013)

Mr. Ahmadinejad's presidential term is due to end next month when he will be succeeded by President-elect Hasan Rouhani.