Iran's Networks of Influence in the Middle East
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The Islamic Front by Aaron Y
MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 2177 Rebels Consolidating Strength in Syria: The Islamic Front by Aaron Y. Zelin Dec 3, 2013 ABOUT THE AUTHORS Aaron Y. Zelin Aaron Y. Zelin is the Richard Borow Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy where his research focuses on Sunni Arab jihadi groups in North Africa and Syria as well as the trend of foreign fighting and online jihadism. Brief Analysis The latest umbrella organization for key rebel factions in Syria may not include U.S.-designated terrorist groups, but it does oppose many U.S. objectives. he recent merger of several Syrian rebel groups into the Islamic Front (IF) is one of the war's most important T developments. Although the political and military opposition has long been fragmented, the new umbrella organization brings seven groups and their combined force of 45,000-60,000 fighters under one command. It also links the fight in the north and the south. Most notably, though, it affirms the troubles Washington will have setting policy in Syria going forward. WHO ARE THEY? F ormally announced on November 22, the IF includes groups from three prior umbrella organizations: the Syrian Islamic Front (SIF), the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front (SILF), and the Kurdish Islamic Front (KIF). From the SIF, Harakat Ahrar al-Sham al-Islamiyya (HASI), Kataib Ansar al-Sham, and Liwa al-Haqq joined, as did the KIF as a whole and former SILF brigades Suqur al-Sham, Liwa al-Tawhid, and Jaish al-Islam. None of these groups has been designated by the U.S. -
The Jihadi Threat: ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Beyond
THE JIHADI THREAT ISIS, AL QAEDA, AND BEYOND The Jihadi Threat ISIS, al- Qaeda, and Beyond Robin Wright William McCants United States Institute of Peace Brookings Institution Woodrow Wilson Center Garrett Nada J. M. Berger United States Institute of Peace International Centre for Counter- Terrorism Jacob Olidort The Hague Washington Institute for Near East Policy William Braniff Alexander Thurston START Consortium, University of Mary land Georgetown University Cole Bunzel Clinton Watts Prince ton University Foreign Policy Research Institute Daniel Byman Frederic Wehrey Brookings Institution and Georgetown University Car ne gie Endowment for International Peace Jennifer Cafarella Craig Whiteside Institute for the Study of War Naval War College Harleen Gambhir Graeme Wood Institute for the Study of War Yale University Daveed Gartenstein- Ross Aaron Y. Zelin Foundation for the Defense of Democracies Washington Institute for Near East Policy Hassan Hassan Katherine Zimmerman Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy American Enterprise Institute Charles Lister Middle East Institute Making Peace Possible December 2016/January 2017 CONTENTS Source: Image by Peter Hermes Furian, www . iStockphoto. com. The West failed to predict the emergence of al- Qaeda in new forms across the Middle East and North Africa. It was blindsided by the ISIS sweep across Syria and Iraq, which at least temporarily changed the map of the Middle East. Both movements have skillfully continued to evolve and proliferate— and surprise. What’s next? Twenty experts from think tanks and universities across the United States explore the world’s deadliest movements, their strate- gies, the future scenarios, and policy considerations. This report reflects their analy sis and diverse views. -
Iranian Forces and Shia Militias in Syria
BICOM Briefing Iranian forces and Shia militias in Syria March 2018 Introduction In Iraq, another country where Iran has implemented its proxy policy, the Iranian On Wednesday, 28 February a US media outlet sponsored militias were not disbanded following reported that Iran was building a new military the defeat of ISIS but are standing as a united base 16 km northwest of the Syrian capital, list in the coming elections and will likely lead Damascus. The report included satellite images key institutions in the country. They are also of warehouses which could store short and protected in law as a permanently mobilised medium-range missiles that intelligence officials force, despite the fact that their leaders take said were capable of reaching any part of Israel. orders from Iran rather than the Government in The base, which is operated by the Iranian Baghdad. With the civil war in Syria far from Revolutionary Guard’s (IRGC) special operations over, Iran will likely seek to implement this “Iraq Quds Force, is similar to one established by model” in Syria in the future. the Iranians near the town of al-Kiswah, 15km southwest of Damascus, which was reportedly The sheer number of moving pieces in Syria targeted by Israeli fighter jets last December. – the regime heading south, Iran seeking to establish military bases, Israel becoming more This news followed a feature in the New York active in preventing the establishment of Shia Times which argued that Iran was “redrawing militias and Russia looking to maintain its the strategic map of the region” and that dozens dominance – are creating a combustible situation of bases in Syria were being operated by Iran with high potential for miscalculation, error and and its Shia militia network. -
Iraq's Muqtada Al-Sadr
IRAQ’S MUQTADA AL-SADR: SPOILER OR STABILISER? Middle East Report N°55 – 11 July 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................. i I. MUQTADA’S LINEAGE .............................................................................................. 1 A. MUHAMMAD BAQIR AL-SADR: THE REVOLUTIONARY THINKER AND “FIRST MARTYR” ......2 B. MUHAMMAD SADIQ AL-SADR: THE PLEBEIAN ACTIVIST AND “SECOND MARTYR”............3 C. MUQTADA AL-SADR: THE UNLIKELY HEIR .........................................................................6 II. MUQTADA’S STEEP AND SWIFT LEARNING CURVE....................................... 7 A. FROM CONFRONTATION TO DOMINANT PRESENCE................................................................7 B. TRIAL AND ERROR: THE FAILURE AND LESSONS OF RADICALISATION ................................10 C. MUQTADA’S POLITICAL ENTRY ..........................................................................................12 III. THE SADRIST MOVEMENT: AN ATYPICAL PHENOMENON ....................... 17 A. MUQTADA’S POLITICAL RESOURCES...................................................................................17 B. AN UNSTRUCTURED MOVEMENT ........................................................................................20 IV. THREE POTENTIAL SOURCES OF CONFLICT ................................................. 21 V. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................. 24 APPENDICES A. MAP OF IRAQ ......................................................................................................................25 -
The Dynamics of Syria's Civil
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and EDUCATION AND THE ARTS decisionmaking through research and analysis. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE This electronic document was made available from www.rand.org as a public service INFRASTRUCTURE AND of the RAND Corporation. TRANSPORTATION INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS LAW AND BUSINESS Skip all front matter: Jump to Page 16 NATIONAL SECURITY POPULATION AND AGING PUBLIC SAFETY Support RAND SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Browse Reports & Bookstore TERRORISM AND Make a charitable contribution HOMELAND SECURITY For More Information Visit RAND at www.rand.org Explore the RAND Corporation View document details Limited Electronic Distribution Rights This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law as indicated in a notice appearing later in this work. This electronic representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for non- commercial use only. Unauthorized posting of RAND electronic documents to a non-RAND website is prohibited. RAND electronic documents are protected under copyright law. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our research documents for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please see RAND Permissions. RAND perspectives (PEs) present informed perspective on a timely topic that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors. All RAND perspectives undergo rigorous peer review to ensure high standards for research quality and objectivity. Perspective C O R P O R A T I O N Expert insights on a timely policy issue The Dynamics of Syria’s Civil War Brian Michael Jenkins Principal Observations One-third of the population has fled the country or has been displaced internally. -
Public Opinion Towards Terrorist Organizations in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Libya a Special Focus on Dai’Sh in Iraq
Public Opinion Towards Terrorist Organizations in Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Libya A special focus on Dai’sh in Iraq Discussion hosted by Anthony H. Cordesman, Burke Chair in Strategy, CSIS, featuring Munqith M. Dagher Independent Institute for Administration and Civil Society Studies (IIACSS) Iraq Prepared for March 4, 2015 Presentation at CSIS, Washington, D.C. Methodology • Series of F2F nation wide polls conducted in Iraq since 2003. • 3 F2F nation wide polls conducted in Libya (2012-2014) • Two F2F nation wide polls conducted in each of Yemen and Syria (2013-2014) • In depth interviews with opinion leaders from areas controlled by ISIL. Introduction • Modern militant Islamic movements started in 1979 with Khomeini’s revolution in Iran • Al Qa'ida which established to fight Soviet Union in Afghanistan was very active in Iraq between 2004-2010 • ISIL (Dai’sh) – Appeared in Syria in 2013 as one of the main players there – Used by Asad to justify the suppression of the revolution, on one hand, and to gain international support on the other hand – The beginning of ISIL activities in Iraq was in Anbar after the ignorance of central government to demonstrator’s demands Nation-wide survey 8th June 2014 Introduction • Dai’sh is the latest and most powerful incarnation of what began as an al-Qaida affiliate in Iraq following the 2003 US-led invasion. • American forces spent years and enormous resources to bring the group largely to heel before US troops pulled out of the country in December of 2011. • Since then, the region has been convulsed in political turmoil and sectarian hatred. -
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MENU Policy Analysis / PolicyWatch 3198 What Is Iran Up To in Deir al-Zour? by Oula A. Alrifai Oct 10, 2019 Also available in Arabic / Farsi ABOUT THE AUTHORS Oula A. Alrifai Oula A. Alrifai is a senior fellow in The Washington Institute's Geduld Program on Arab Politics. Brief Analysis Tehran and its proxies have been exerting hard and soft power in northeast Syria, combining military consolidation with economic, social, and religious outreach in order to cement their long-term influence. n September 30, Syria and Iraq reopened their main border crossing between al-Bukamal and al-Qaim, O which had been formally closed for five years. The circumstances surrounding the event were telling—the ceremony was delayed by a couple weeks because of unclaimed foreign airstrikes on Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets in east Syria following the Iranian attack against Saudi oil facilities earlier that month. What exactly have the IRGC and its local proxies been doing in Deir al-Zour province? And what does this activity tell us about Iran’s wider plans there? OPENING THE DOOR FOR IRAQI PROXIES T he border ceremony was led by Khadhim al-Ikabi, an Iraqi government representative, raising questions about whether the decision will help circumvent U.S. sanctions placed on Iran. Although Syrian state media celebrated the event as an opportunity to increase trade with Iraq, Tehran’s reaction indicated that the crossing will mainly serve Iranian military interests. According to officials and media in Iran, reopening the border is of “high strategic importance” in strengthening the Islamic Republic’s “trilateral coalition” with Baghdad and Damascus. -
MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA Continued: Iran: Winning Hearts and Minds in Deir Ezzor “…A History of Iranian Shi’I Proselytism in Deir Ezzor Which Dates to 1988…”
MIDDLE EAST, NORTH AFRICA Iran: Winning Hearts and Minds in Deir Ezzor OE Watch Commentary: Deir Ezzor is a tribal Sunni province of Syria located on the Euphrates River, along the border with Iraq. Its physical and socio-cultural environments resemble those of Iraq’s Anbar Province, and it was an ISIS stronghold for several years. Late last year, the provincial capital and surrounding areas were retaken by loyalist forces, with Iranian-backed militias leading the charge. Although it is not a natural social environment for deep-rooted Iranian influence to take hold, some of the Iran-backed militias may be there to stay. The foundations for Iran’s ability to assert control over this traditionally Sunni area are partially explained in the accompanying passage, published last November in the Syrian opposition news website alsouria.net. According to the article, soft-power measures from as early as 1988 have paved the way for Iran’s new foothold in Deir Ezzor. That year, the article claims, Iranian envoys began enticing poor villagers from the Baqqara (Baggara) tribe to adopt religious practices associated with Shi’i Iran. Through mechanisms such as the Imam al-Murtaza Foundation, Iran extended its influence by providing these neglected areas with material assistance and a new ideological edifice, based on Iranian Revolutionary ideals and centered around newly built Shi’i houses of worship (Husseiniyat). Iran’s close relations with the Assad government also allowed its envoys and allies to provide government functions in some areas, according to the article. The loyalist retaking of Deir Ezzor in late 2017 received crucial support from Nawaf al-Bashir, a prominent member of the Baqqara in Syria. -
EUI RSCAS Working Paper 2021/08 How Global Jihad Relocalises And
RSC 2021/08 Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Middle East Directions Programme How Global Jihad Relocalises and Where it Leads. The Case of HTS, the Former AQ Franchise in Syria Jerome Drevon and Patrick Haenni European University Institute Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Middle East Directions Programm How Global Jihad Relocalises and Where it Leads. The Case of HTS, the Former AQ Franchise in Syria Jerome Drevon and Patrick Haenni EUI Working Paper RSC 2021/08 Terms of access and reuse for this work are governed by the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC- BY 4.0) International license. If cited or quoted, reference should be made to the full name of the author(s), editor(s), the title, the working paper series and number, the year and the publisher. ISSN 1028-3625 © Jerome Drevon and Patrick Haenni, 2021 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC-BY 4.0) International license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Published in January 2021 by the European University Institute. Badia Fiesolana, via dei Roccettini 9 I – 50014 San Domenico di Fiesole (FI) Italy Views expressed in this publication reflect the opinion of individual author(s) and not those of the European University Institute. This publication is available in Open Access in Cadmus, the EUI Research Repository: https://cadmus.eui.eu Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies The Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, created in 1992 and currently directed by Professor Brigid Laffan, aims to develop inter-disciplinary and comparative research on the major issues facing the process of European integration, European societies and Europe’s place in 21st century global politics. -
H. R. 4591, with an Amendment
G:\M\15\SUSPENSION\H4591_SUS.XML Suspend the Rules and Pass the Bill, H. R. 4591, With an Amendment (The amendment strikes all after the enacting clause and inserts a new text) 115TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 4591 To impose sanctions with respect to Iranian persons that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECEMBER 7, 2017 Mr. KINZINGER (for himself, Mr. SUOZZI, Mrs. WAGNER, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. NUNES, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. ZELDIN, Mr. OLSON, Mr. HUN- TER, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. RUSSELL, Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania, Ms. STEFANIK, and Mr. GOTTHEIMER) in- troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on For- eign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned A BILL To impose sanctions with respect to Iranian persons that threaten the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, G:\VHLC\110218\110218.011.xml (707041|3) November 2, 2018 (10:52 a.m.) VerDate Nov 24 2008 10:52 Nov 02, 2018 Jkt 000000 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 C:\USERS\MAECKS~1\APPDATA\ROAMING\SOFTQUAD\XMETAL\7.0\GEN\C\H4591_~1.X G:\M\15\SUSPENSION\H4591_SUS.XML 2 1 SECTION 1. -
Canada Gazette, Part I, Extra
EXTRA Vol. 155, No. 1 ÉDITION SPÉCIALE Vol. 155, no 1 Canada Gazette Gazette du Canada Part I Partie I OTTAWA, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2021 OTTAWA, LE MARDI 2 FÉVRIER 2021 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND MINISTÈRE DE LA SÉCURITÉ PUBLIQUE ET EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DE LA PROTECTION CIVILE CRIMINAL CODE CODE CRIMINEL Review of listed entities pursuant to section 83.05 of Examen de la liste d’entités inscrites en vertu de the Criminal Code l’article 83.05 du Code criminel Whereas subsection 83.05(8.1)1a of the Criminal Code 2b Attendu que, aux termes du paragraphe 83.05(8.1)1a du requires the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Code criminel 2b, le ministre de la Sécurité publique et Preparedness to review the list established by the de la Protection civile doit examiner la liste établie par Regulations Establishing a List of Entities 3c, made pur- le Règlement établissant une liste d’entités 3c en vertu suant to subsection 83.05(1)4d of that Act, within five du paragraphe 83.05(1)4d de cette loi, dans les cinq ans years after the day on which subsection 83.05(8.1)a suivant la date de l’entrée en vigueur du paragra- came into force in order to determine whether there phe 83.05(8.1)a pour décider si les motifs visés au pa- are still reasonable grounds, as set out in subsec- ragraphe 83.05(1)d justifiant l’inscription d’une entité tion 83.05(1)d, for an entity to remain a listed entity; sur cette liste existent toujours; And whereas, pursuant to subsection 83.05(8.1)a of Attendu que, en application du paragraphe 83.05(8.1)a that Act, that Minister -
Full Document in PDF Format
Spotlight on Global Jihad November 2 – 8, 2017, 2017 Main events of the week The conquest of the regions controlled by the Islamic State has reached the last lap. Abu Kamal, ISIS's last stronghold, is currently under combined pressure from the Syrian army, the Shi'ite militias and Hezbollah operatives, and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) advancing on the city from both sides of the Euphrates. The attack on Abu Kamal is being waged with intensive Russian air support. The first forces of the Shi'ite militias and Hezbollah are apparently a few dozen kilometers from Abu Kamal. All the forces, and the countries behind them, want to be part of the final victory at Abu Kamal, which will mean the end of the Islamic State's existence in Syria. For that reason Qasem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC's Qods Force, made a point of visiting Deir al-Zor and had his picture taken with Shi'ite militia fighters affiliated with Iran, despite being in mourning for the death of his father. The strategically significant events in Syria were overshadowed this week by potentially explosive local events in the northern Golan Heights. On November 3, 2017, the rebel forces headed by the Headquarters for the Liberation of al-Sham (originally the al-Qaeda- affiliated al-Nusra Front), initiated an offensive aimed to open a supply route to besieged rebel operatives in the Beit Jinn enclave. After several hours of clashes the Syrian army and its affiliated militias halted the attack and restored the status quo ante. According to a report, the clashes were renewed on November 6, 2017.