ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Hashd al-Shaabi’s security directorate continued its crackdown on headquarters of groups it claims were masquerading as members of the Popular Mobilization Forces. It shut down five offices in the last two days.
On Monday, the security directorate of the Hashd al-Shaabi Commission announced in a statement the closure of two “fake headquarters” of groups pretending to be Hashd units in Baghdad.
The two groups are the Kutlat Daam al-Dawla (Faction of Supporting the State) in Karrada and Kataeb al-Nukhba al-Qitali (The Elite Fighting Battalions) in the al-Dawra area.
“The two headquarters were closed upon the discovery of light and heavy weapons, military uniforms and ranks, badges and fake documents,” the statement detailed.
On Sunday, the Hashd closed three more headquarters and detained the leaders.
“In continuation of the national campaign to close fake headquarters and clear al-Hashd of those pretending to be affiliated with it, the security directorate of al-Hashd today closed three fake headquarters,” the commission stated on Sunday.
The closures were based on court orders, Hashd claimed.
One of the headquarters raided was that of the Iitilaf Squr Dawlat al-Iraq (Coalition of Iraqi State Hawks) in Karrada. There, the Hashd confiscated records of real estate dealings for state property in the name of the Hashd al-Shaabi.
The second headquarters raided on Sunday was al-Intifadha al-Shaabanyah (the Shaabaniyah Uprising) in the al-Bab al-Sharqi area. There, they detained a man named Ali al-Sakry who was reportedly pretending to be a lieutenant general.
The third headquarters was in the al-Saadun area where “fake documents” in the name of Hashd and alcohol were found.
Hashd said it will strike with an “iron fist” all those involved in these “fake” units of their forces and called on people to report suspicious activity.
There are tens of militias with thousands of members aligned within the Hashd al-Shaabi.
This crackdown within the Hashd began last week with the arrest of Aws al-Khafaji, head of a brigade that the commission said was not related to them.
Khafaji had accused Hashd elements of killing his cousin, an author who was critical of Iran, which is the powerful backer of the Hashd al-Shaabi.