Iraqi militia spox discusses decision not to enter Syria war

BAGHDAD — Kataib Sayyid Al-Shuhada, a prominent Iraqi militia group, commented Sunday on why Iraqi factions have opted not to join the ongoing battles in western Syria alongside the Syrian government. The group pointed to concerns about giving Israel a pretext for military intervention, while affirming that Iran remains a strategic reserve force for Syria despite its limited involvement in the current conflict.

Many Iraqi Shia groups, particularly Iran-backed militias, have historically labeled Syrian rebels as terrorists and expressed strong support for Assad. In previous years, these militias actively intervened in the Syrian conflict to bolster Assad’s regime. However, during the recent rebel offensive, their involvement has been notably restrained. While some reports indicate that approximately 200 Iraqi militiamen crossed into Syria to support government forces in Aleppo, the scale of intervention was down compared to past engagements.

Some days before Al-Assad’s fall, Kataib Hezbollah, a prominent Iran-backed Iraqi militia, called on the Iraqi government to dispatch official military forces to Syria in coordination with Damascus.

Excerpts of Kazem Al-Fartousi’s interview on Al-Ahad:

I believe the broad conference proposed by Baghdad holds the key to addressing the Syrian crisis. The political dimension is critical; this is not merely a military or security issue.

What is happening in Syria is not due to the overwhelming strength of the attacking forces but rather an internal collapse. There may even be prior agreements with certain leaders, as many defensive forces have withdrawn, leaving their weapons behind, either in coordination or without it. This is a reality that cannot be ignored.

We are witnessing the emergence of a “new Kandahar,” which poses significant concerns for Iraq and Lebanon, and should alarm Turkey as well. However, Turkey has engaged in a game that may soon backfire. These terrorists are supported by the United States and Israel, and [Abu Mohammad] al-Julani [head of Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham] has begun speaking openly as he positions himself as both a military and political leader, despite being designated a terrorist by Washington [DC].

Reports suggest al-Julani has met with Americans, and discussions about removing him from terrorism lists have surfaced to pave the way for his current military activities. It is no coincidence that these movements are taking place following the ceasefire agreement in Lebanon. As noted by Sayyed Al-Houthi [The leader of Yemen’s Houthi group], Jerusalem is considered the holiest spot in the Levant, making the “liberation of the Levant” a precursor to the liberation of Jerusalem. Israel has treated injured terrorists in its hospitals and now provides them with communication and jamming equipment.

If these groups were genuinely moving to support Palestine and Lebanon, the situation there would not be as it is now, especially given Israel’s occupation of the Golan Heights. Yet the current agenda appears to be the division of Syria into three or four states, akin to the era of the French Mandate.

Dormant terrorist cells may become active in Syria, potentially targeting major prisons, which could pose a threat to Iraq. However, this threat is not as severe as in 2014. Iraq’s military and the Popular Mobilization Forces are now more experienced and capable of addressing these groups.

While these terrorist groups do not currently pose a major security threat to Iraq, the region’s political actors lack sufficient safeguards against new regional projects. Reports also indicate that these groups have been meeting with U.S. intelligence agencies over the past three months, with plans to transfer some fighters to the Ukrainian front in exchange for Ukrainian trainers to instruct them in drone operations.

The decision not to intervene militarily is rooted in a desire to avoid granting Israel an excuse to escalate its involvement. Iran has not abandoned Syria but has chosen to let the Syrian army handle this battle, positioning itself as a reserve force.