Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq

Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq
Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq
قوة أحرار العراق
Leaders	Mahdi Al-Sumaidaie
Dates of operation	June 2014–present
Active regions	Iraq
Ideology	Sunni Islamism
Part of	Popular Mobilization Forces (since 8 November 2014)
Allies	Syria; Iran
Opponents	United States; Saudi Arabia; Turkey; Harakat Sham al-Islam; Ansar al-Islam; Tahrir al-Sham; Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Battles and wars	War in Iraq Second Battle of Tikrit ; Battle of Baiji (2014–2015) ; Anbar campaign (2015–2016) ; Battle of Ar-Rutbah (2016) ;
Website	Youtube Channel

Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq was formed under the name of Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq (Force of the Free Men of Iraq) on 14 June 2014 according to the fatwa of the Grand Mufti Sheikh Mahdi Al-Sumaidaie, the grand mufti of the Republic of Iraq on the necessity of enlisting and defending Iraq.

Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq was formed in Baghdad and the first battles were in Tikrit and Baiji, and then in Anbar. In addition to these areas, Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq fought in order to liberate Iraq from ISIS in; Anbar: al-Hawz area, al-Mal'ab, Hit, Haditha, al-Baghdadi, Jazirat al-Khalidiya, Jazirat Rawa, Rawa, Anah and Rutba. In Salah al-Din; Tikrit, Baiji, Shirqat. Kirkuk, Mosul, Qayarra and the east of the Tigris River and Rabi'a (Ninawa countryside), as well as Baghdad and al-Mashahadah. According to Anas Mahdi al-Sumaida'i.e., secretary general of Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq, during these battles Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq had 250 casualties and more than 700 wounded.^[1]^[2]

Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq was registered in the Popular Mobilization Forces on 8 November 2014 under the 86th Brigade.^[2]

According to Anas Mahdi, in 2018 Iraqi parliamentary elections, one of the candidates affiliated with the Quwat Ahrar al-Iraq obtained more than 13,000 votes in Ninawa province "but the votes were taken after modification and the great conspiracy in the elections".

Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq, on 26 June 2022 committed rocket attacks against Turkish Zlikan base, Iraq. Four rockets were used in the attacks. No casualties were recorded.^[3]^[4]

On 21 July 2022, Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq responded to Zakho resort attack where nine civilians, including two children were murdered by the Turkish military by stating; "Our response will not be ink on paper, but with rockets, marches, missiles. We are among the vengeful criminals."^[5]

References

^ "Hashd formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq". Tehran Times. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
^ ^a ^b Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "Hashd Formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
^ "Zlikan attack: Two rocket launchpads seized in Nineveh". Zlikan attack: Two rocket launchpads seized in Nineveh. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
^ "Rocket attack targets Zlikan base". Rocket attack targets Zlikan base. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
^ "لواء احرار العراق يهدد بالرد على القصف التركي ب الصواريخ و ا - الراصد العراقي". الراصد العراقي، موسوعة أخبار العراق (in Arabic). Retrieved 21 July 2022.

[1] "Hashd formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq". Tehran Times. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

[:0-2] Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad. "Hashd Formations of Iraq: Interview with Harakat Ahrar al-Iraq". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

[3] "Zlikan attack: Two rocket launchpads seized in Nineveh". Zlikan attack: Two rocket launchpads seized in Nineveh. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

[4] "Rocket attack targets Zlikan base". Rocket attack targets Zlikan base. Retrieved 26 June 2022.

[5] "لواء احرار العراق يهدد بالرد على القصف التركي ب الصواريخ و ا - الراصد العراقي". الراصد العراقي، موسوعة أخبار العراق (in Arabic). Retrieved 21 July 2022.

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