Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
KABUL – raq’s parliament has launched an investigation into the arrival of Afghan and Pakistani militants who previously fought alongside Bashar al-Assad’s forces in Syria. The fighters, largely from the Iran-backed Fatemiyoun and Zainabiyoun brigades, crossed into Iraq in early December, raising alarms over their potential integration into local militias. Iraqi security officials confirmed the militants entered Iraq at the same time Syrian regime troops retreated into the country.
Despite Iraq’s defense ministry denying the presence of foreign militias, concerns have intensified among lawmakers, with MP Adnan Al-Zurfi accusing the government of harboring these groups. The fighters, listed on global terrorism watchlists, are believed to have been stationed in official government camps.
The investigation comes as Iraq faces mounting fears that the presence of foreign militias could provoke US or Israeli strikes. Parliamentary security committee member Yasser Watout stated that Iraq would work with intelligence agencies to verify the claims, while other politicians warned of the potential security risks posed by these foreign groups.
Abdul Rahman Al-Jazairi, a senior member of the State of Law Coalition, described the situation as a “strategic mistake” and urged the government to act quickly to remove the factions to prevent further destabilization.
