Iraqi Shiite militia commander close to Qassem Soleimani killed in Aleppo

IRGC-QF chief Qassem Soleimani, middle, with Saraya al Khorasani chief Ali al Yasseri, top left, Saraya al Khorasani deputy Seyyed Hamed Jazayeri, top right, and AAH commander Mohammad-Bagheri Soleimani.

Qassem Soleimani, middle, with killed Asa’ib Ahl al Haq commander Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani, bottom.

Asa’ib Ahl al Haq (AAH), a prominent Iranian-backed Iraqi Shiite militia, confirmed the death of one of its field commanders, Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani, in Aleppo, Syria, on Sept. 22. He was close to Qassem Soleimani (no relation), commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) Qods Force, which is the Guard’s extraterritorial operations branch.

AAH announced in a statement that Mohammad-Bagher was killed “defending Islamic sanctities.” Iranian media posted images of the two Soleimanis, both of whom are referred to with the honorary title of “Haj.” One photo showed Haj Mohammad-Bagher sitting at the feet of Haj Qassem, with Ali al Yasiri and Seyyed Hamed Jazayeri, the commander and deputy commander of the Khorasani Brigades – an IRGC-backed Iraqi militia formed in 2013 to fight in Syria and “defend the Sayyida Zaynab shrine” in Damascus.

“The images of this popular forces commander [Mohammad-Bagher] alongside commander Haj Qassem Soleimani shows his love and devotion to the courageous commander of Islam,” an obituary in Iranian media wrote.

Iranian-backed militias from Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Pakistan are heavily engaged in Aleppo fighting on behalf of Bashar al Assad.

IRGC-QF chief Qassem Soleimani, middle, with Harakat al Nujaba head Akram al Kabi, left, and AAH commander Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani, right, in Aleppo, Syria, November 2015.

IRGC-QF chief Qassem Soleimani, middle, with Harakat al Nujaba head Akram al Kabi, left, and AAH commander Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani, right, in Aleppo, Syria, November 2015.

IRGC-QF chief Qassem Soleimani, right, and AAH commander Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani.

IRGC-QF chief Qassem Soleimani, right, and AAH commander Mohammad-Bagher Soleimani.

Amir Toumaj is a independent analyst and contributor to FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.

Tags: , ,

5 Comments

  • Moose says:

    This dude is all up on Qassem Soleimani in these pics. In the first one, he has his elbow on Soleimani’s crotch and in the last one you can tell Soleimani’s like, “Dude, get off me.” Hahaha.

  • secha says:

    Warlord crush

  • TRM says:

    Another jihadi KIA. How very sad…

  • Demian Barrett says:

    Thankfully, another competent warrior will take his place.
    It is time that the US be on the right side and defend the principle of sovereignty.

  • Cœur de Lion says:

    So an Iraqi militia commander close to the Iranian Qods Force commander dies in Syria and your response is that the US should “get on the right side and defend…sovereignty. Interesting point.

    Well you are in luck because it appears that the current administration is doing everything it can to support Iranian sovereignty in Syria, Iraq and anywhere else it encounters Iranians “defending sovereignty”

Iraq

Islamic state

Syria

Aqap

Al shabaab

Boko Haram

Isis