View source for Mukhtar Army

{{infobox war faction
|name=Mukhtar Army
|native_name=جيش المختار
|native_name_lang=ar
|war=the [[Iraqi insurgency (post-U.S. withdrawal)|Iraqi insurgency]], [[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)]], [[Syrian Civil War]]
|image=[[File:Flag of the Mukhtar Army.svg|250px]]
|caption=The flag of the Mukhtar Army.<br />The flag is identifical to the flag of [[Hezbollah]], except for the text under the emblem, with the Muktar Army flag featuring the line<br />"النهضة الاسلامية في العراق"<br />(The Islamic Renaissance in Iraq).
|active=February 2013 – present
|ideology=[[Shia]] [[Islamism]]<br />[[Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists|Wilayat al Faqih]]
|leaders=[[Wathiq al-Battat]]
|clans=
|headquarters=
|area=
|size=
|partof=
|predecessor=
|successor=
|allies={{IRQ}}<br>{{flag|Iran}} <small>(Claimed by Battat, denied by the IRGC)</small>{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
|opponents={{flag|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of the People's Mujahedin of Iran.svg}} [[People's Mujahedin of Iran]]<br>
{{flagdeco|Iraq|1963}} [[Free Iraqi Army]]
|battles=[[Syrian Civil War]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.noonpost.org/content/4802|title=حزب الله العراقي ذراع إيرانية لا نعرف عنها الكثير|date=25 December 2014|access-date=25 July 2018|archive-date=25 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180725185627/http://www.noonpost.org/content/4802|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|url=
}}
The '''Mukhtar Army''' is a [[Shi'a]] Iraqi militia group formed in February 2013 by Wathiq al-Battat, a former senior official in the [[Hezbollah Brigades]].<ref name="sectarian">{{cite news|title=Return of sectarian threats in Iraq raises alarm|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/return-sectarian-threats-iraq-raises-alarm|agency=Associated Press|date=25 February 2013|access-date=28 February 2013|archive-date=1 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301034915/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/return-sectarian-threats-iraq-raises-alarm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Al-Battat pledged his loyalty to the Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah [[Ali Khamenei]].<ref name="memri">{{cite web|url=http://www.memri.org/clip_transcript/en/4046.htm|title=Iraqi Shiite Militia Leader Watheq Al-Battat: I Would Support Iran in a War against Iraq|date=23 October 2013|publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute|access-date=22 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224111357/http://www.memri.org/clip_transcript/en/4046.htm|archive-date=24 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Al-Battat was arrested briefly on 2 January 2014<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25578396|title=Iraqi security forces fight militants in Anbar province|agency=BBC|date=2 January 2014}}</ref> but was released despite still being a fugitive. He was allegedly "accidentally assassinated" at point-blank range on 20 December 2014 at a fake police checkpoint in eastern Iraq by an unknown party<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/senior-hezbollah-leader-wathiq-al-battat-assassinated-by-accident-iraq-1480664|title=Senior Hezbollah leader Wathiq al-Battat 'assassinated by accident' in Iraq|last=Wyke|first=Thomas |date=2014-12-22|work=International Business Times UK|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/12/leader_of_iran-suppo.php|title=Leader of Iranian-backed militia killed in eastern Iraq |date=2014-12-22|work=Long War Journal|access-date=2018-03-12|language=en-US}}</ref> but has since been reported alive and has appeared in the public eye.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/en/politics/63993/|title=Iran’s National Council for Peace: The New Kids on the Opposition Bloc|website=IranWire|language=en|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9FVzY8X7tY|title=The Jundallah Group: History and Activities|website=YouTube|publisher=The Source|date=July 12, 2023|language=ar|access-date=July 29, 2024}}</ref>

== Formation ==
On 4 February 2013, al-Battat announced the formation of the Mukhtar Army with the stated purpose of protecting Iraq's Shi'as, and to assist the government in combating terrorism.<ref name="risha">{{cite news|title=Iraq's Hezbollah forms new militia to frighten protesters: Sunni leader|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/27/268685.html|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=27 February 2013|access-date=28 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603205914/http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/27/268685.html|archive-date=3 June 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> He stated that the Mukhtar Army would prevent any Sunnis controlled by al-Qaeda or other militant sectarian groups from attempting to topple the Shi'a-led government in Iraq.<ref name="sectarian" /><ref name="irin">{{cite web|title=Briefing: A guide to defusing sectarian tensions in Iraq |url=http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97465/Briefing-A-guide-to-diffusing-sectarian-tensions-in-Iraq|publisher=Integrated Regional Information Networks|date=13 February 2013}}</ref>

In a phone interview with the Associated Press, Al-Battat said that the group receives weapons and other support from Iran,<ref name="exiles">{{cite news|title=Shiite Militant Threatens Iranian Exiles in Iraq|agency=Associated Press|url=https://news.yahoo.com/shiite-militant-threatens-iranian-exiles-iraq-152127773.html|date=26 February 2013}}</ref> and is advised by the [[Quds Force]], a special unit of the [[Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps]] (IRGC) that oversees its external operations.<ref name="sectarian" /> He describes himself as a follower of [[Ayatollah]] [[Ali Khamenei]], the [[Supreme Leader of Iran]].<ref name="exiles" />

An IRGC official dismissed suggestions it supports any armed group in Iraq, saying that such "claims are aimed at defaming the Guard. We do not see any reason to respond to such baseless claims."<ref name="exiles" /> A spokesperson for the Hezbollah Brigades also distanced his group from al-Battat and the Mukhtar Army, stating that al-Battat "is not affiliated with the Hezbollah Brigades in any way whatsoever."<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|title=Iraqi Shi'i militant group distances itself from leader's newly-formed militia |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/article-1G1-318884969/iraqi-shii-militant-group.html|newspaper=Al-Mada|publisher=BBC Monitoring|date=9 February 2013}}</ref>

[[Ahmed Abu Risha]], the head of the Sunni [[Anbar Salvation Council]], argues that the Mukhtar Army was created with Iraqi government consent to silence [[2012–2013 Iraqi protests|Sunni-led protests]] that began in December 2012.<ref name="risha" />

A few days after the group's formation, the Iraqi government issued an arrest warrant against al-Battat.<ref name="irin" /> Speaking on 9 February 2013, Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] called on Iraqi citizens to cooperate with security forces in disclosing the whereabouts of al-Battat in order to arrest him as soon as possible.<ref name="BBC" />

== Activities ==
Al-Battat stated that the Mukhtar Army was behind the rocket and mortar attack on 9 February 2013 that killed seven members of the Iranian opposition group [[Mujahedeen-e Khalq]] (MEK) housed at [[Camp Liberty]] in [[Baghdad]]. He threatened more attacks against the MEK until they leave the country.<ref name="exiles" />

In mid-February, threatening flyers signed by the Mukhtar Army were placed at Sunni households in Baghdad's [[Hayy Al-Jihad|Jihad]] neighborhood. The leaflets warned "enemy" Sunnis to leave now or face "great agony". The Mukhtar Army denied responsibility for the flyers.<ref name="sectarian" /> The Mukhtar Army has also threatened that it will "liberate" Saudi Arabia<ref>{{cite news|title=Gulf armies wrap up joint military drill, stress capability to deter enemies|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/articles/2013/02/27/268702.html|newspaper=Al Arabiya|date=27 February 2013}}</ref> and target the [[Mubarak Al Kabeer Port]] being constructed in Kuwait.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi faction threatens Kuwait port|url=http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2013/02/24/iraqi-faction-threatens-kuwait-port/|newspaper=Kuwait Times|date=24 February 2013|access-date=1 March 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413183419/http://news.kuwaittimes.net/2013/02/24/iraqi-faction-threatens-kuwait-port/|archive-date=13 April 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

On 21 November 2013, the Mukhtar Army claimed responsibility for six mortar bombs fired into northern Saudi Arabia that landed near a border post. Al-Battat said, "The goal was to send a warning message to the Saudis to tell them that their border stations and patrol are within our range of fire." He also said he wanted Saudi Arabia to stop "interfering" with Iraqi affairs.<ref>{{cite news|date=21 November 2013|title=Iraqi group says fired shells at Saudi Arabia|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/11/iraqi-group-says-fired-shells-at-saudi-arabia-2013112117138729169.html|publisher=Al Jazeera}}</ref>

== Statements ==
In an interview aired on 5 February 2013 on the Iraqi [[Al Sharqiya]] television channel, al-Battat stated, "Allah willing, we shall annihilate the infidel, atheist Saudi regime, and all the regimes that wage war against Islam, incite their peoples to wage war against Islam and the Prophet Muhammad, and support Israel and America.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/3762.htm|title=Hizbullah of Iraq Sec.-Gen. Watheq Al-Battat: We Shall Annihilate the Infidel Atheist Saudi Regime|date=5 February 2013|publisher=Middle East Media Research Institute}}</ref>

In an interview aired on 23 October 2013 on the Iraqi [[Al Sumaria]] television channel, al-Battat stated, "When it comes to politics, our authority is the leader, Ali Khamenei... I am proud to be a foot soldier in the army of the leader, Sayyed Khamenei." He added, "What is important is the common enemies – the Americans and the Israelis. We must confront them with all our force. After we annihilate the Jews, we can deal with domestic matters.<ref name="memri" />

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Armed Iraqi groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}}
{{Syrian Civil War}}
{{Militant Islamism}}

[[Category:War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
[[Category:Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)]]
[[Category:Paramilitary organizations based in Iraq]]
[[Category:Shia Islamist groups]]
[[Category:Iran–Iraq military relations]]
[[Category:Pro-government factions of the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:Anti-ISIL factions in Iraq]]
[[Category:Jihadist groups in Iraq]]
[[Category:Axis of Resistance]]