Iraqi Militia Declares Readiness To Fight U.S., UK, Israel At Orders Of Iranian Leader; Threatens U.S. Embassy In Baghdad; Claims Coordination With Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades

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Declaration Of Readiness To Attack Interests Of U.S., UK, Israel In Event Of Intervention In Israel-Gaza Conflict

On October 11, 2023, an Iran-backed Iraqi group calling itself "The Islamic Resistance - Uli Al-Ba's Al-Shadid" (based on Quran 17:5—"Those of Great Might"), published a statement on its Telegram channel claiming that its fighters are preparing, in keeping with the orders of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, to attack the interests of the U.S., UK, and Israel if those countries intervene in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.[1]

In the statement, the group calls on its mujahideen, who "belong to the school of Karbala' and believe in it," i.e. Shi'ites, to prepare themselves for performing their "shari'a-based duty" as they await the orders of "the leader, al-wali al-faqih [the jurisprudent ruler, i.e. Khamenei]" to fight against "the great Satan - the Americans, Israelis, English, and their allies - and their sinister plans against Muslim countries everywhere, especially in beloved Palestine," threatening them that "you are within range of the fire of our mujahideen in Iraq and we are ready to remove you to hell […] If you think of intervening in any way, then whoever imagines the resistance will abandon its principles is a fool. Whoever thinks the resistance will abandon its mujahideen in any place in Muslim countries is a fool."

Claim Of "Aerial Penetration" Of U.S. Embassy In Baghdad

Also on the same day, the channel published a video showing an aerial view of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, along with the text reading: "An aerial penetration operation by the intelligence of the Islamic Resistance - Uli Al-Ba's Al-Shadid of the evil U.S. Embassy of Baghdad," adding in both English and Hebrew: "We are ready and awaiting orders".[2]

Claim Of Coordination With Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, Expression Of Readiness To Support Palestinian Resistance And Hizbullah

On October 13, 2023, the Iran-backed Iraqi group issued a statement claiming that its military official had communicated by telephone with the military official of the West Bank-based Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian Fatah movement.[3]

The statement claimed that the two spoke about the latest events in Gaza and in other military Palestinians axes, adding that the Uli Al-Ba's Al-Shadid official told the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades' official that "you are not alone in this great battle" and that the group's mujahideen are "fully prepared and ready to defend our people in beloved Palestine," asserting that the group is "in the same jihadi line with the Palestine resistance and the brothers of Hizbullah, there is only one goal and one enemy." At the end of the statement, an email address to contact the group was attached: "wsilmamer@gmail.com."

The "Uli Al-Ba's Al-Shadid" Telegram channel was created on August 25, 2023. Its name is based on the Quran 17:5 verse: "When the first of the two warnings would come to pass, we would send against you some of Our servants of great might, who would ravage your homes. This would be a warning fulfilled." Since October 5, the channel has published six statements by the group claiming attacks on U.S. and Turkish forces in Iraq, expressing support for the Hamas offensive, and threatening U.S. forces.[4]