Iranian-backed militia seen with US tank in Iraq

KSS Abrams

A US-made M1 Abrams tank can be seen with the flag of the Iranian-backed militia Kata’ib Sayyid al Shuhada

Kata’ib Sayyid al Shuhada (KSS), an Iranian-backed Shia militia which operates in both Syria and Iraq, has been spotted using a US-made M1 Abrams tank in a recently released video. The video, which is a montage of different militias within the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU’s), a Shia-led collection of militias in Iraq, has been shared on several PMU social media outlets.

Around the 16 second mark of the video, a KSS flag can clearly be seen atop an Abrams. It is unclear exactly where the militia is located during this clip, but it is likely within Iraq’s central Salahadin province, where KSS has done a considerable amount of fighting against the Islamic State. It is also unclear when the footage was taken, however, the footage is likely recent since the montage was released two days ago. It is also likely the tank is from the Iraqi Army, as the militias operate with and alongside the Iraqi security forces.

KSS is not the first Shiite militia to publicize its use of an M1 Abrams. The Hezbollah Brigades, a US-designated foreign terrorist organization, showed an Abrams flying the Hezbollah Brigades flag earlier last year. Additionally, the group has also published two videos from Iraq’s Anbar province in which several US-made vehicles are used by its forces. [See LWJ report, Video shows Hezbollah Brigades convoy transporting American M1 tank, and Threat Matrix report, Hezbollah Brigades flaunts US equipment in Anbar operation.]

The Badr Organization, another Iranian-backed Shiite militia, has also publicized photos showing its forces in possession of an Abrams. These photos showed the militia with the tank, and at least one US AT-4 anti-tank rocket, near Saqlawiyah in Anbar last year. [See Threat Matrix report, Badr Organization fighters pose with US M1 Abrams tank.]

KSS is closely linked to Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) – Qods Force, the Iranian government’s special operations branch which foments and supports Islamic revolutions in the Middle East. The militia is led by Abu Mustafa al Sheibani, who was listed by the US government as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in January 2008 for attacking US and British forces, as well as Iraqi political and military leaders. (For more on Sheibani and KSS see LWJ reports, Popular Mobilization Committee militia threatens to ‘strike and destroy’ the Saudi government and Iran sends another dangerous Shia terror commander back to Iraq.)

Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa.

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11 Comments

  • Brian L says:

    Off camera, General Qasem Soleimani could be heard saying, “Thank you, Mr. Cheney!”

  • Michael says:

    When you print an article like this, you should include LWJ’s guess on how the group obtained the tank. Or at least make sure you do a follow-up at some point.

  • James Georges says:

    Just great! Our tax dollars at work once again. This is disgusting to say the least.

  • jack says:

    Probably captured from the actual terrorists of ISIS, who had themselves captured it off the INA.

  • SFC (USA Retired) Aubrey Mason says:

    I reported to the House and Senate JC’s Chairs that Hezbollah had an Abrams last year…
    They may have more than one – as the one I reported looked like an M1A2 – and there is no way they could have obtained an A2 unless someone gave it to them….
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItK0Jb88quw&feature=youtu.be

    The pic you provided in your article is an M1A1 and we know ISIS took several from the Iraqi’s when they invaded…….

  • 11b says:

    I think it’s fairly obvious- the Iraqi Army.

  • R' Yitzchak says:

    70% of Iraqi’s are SHIA 12% Sunnis mainly from the Saddam’s tribe from Fallujah(stan) the all trouble and all terror comes from those “quarters” financed, supported and made from EVERY (fanatical) FREAK SHOU in the region. A reality check? Saddam murdered, gassed, and burned MILLIONS of Shia and the Kurds in order to give their land to his Sunni tribesmans mostly all members of his Baath party. Today ISIS is made of the “fallen” (from the favor) ex Saddams butchers.. so a flawed (to the core) Saudi, Qatari driven agenda’s is no different than that of Saddams and his butchers. SO! 70% of Iraqi’s are Shia ENEMIES of ISIS as well to the genocidal aspirations of Saudi, Qatari, and Turkish Muslim Brotherhood leadership Tajjup Erdogan is open Muslim Brotherhood member. His party of “Brotherly “love” is up front of the Muslim Brotherhood.. So if you would like to help IRAQIS it would be important to know who the enemies are 70% of Iraqis or their butchers?

  • Alarm says:

    Yeah!

  • Michael says:

    My assumption is it went from Iraq Security Forces, to ISIS, then to KSS. Musical chairs with Abrams tanks.

  • Tim Galvin says:

    …good to know; thanks

  • jack says:

    Iran is victorious….

Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis