A former Iraqi official has confirmed the involvement of armed groups affiliated with Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization Forces) in the suppression of peaceful protests in Iran, describing these actions as “crimes against humanity.” At the same time, an Iranian media outlet reported the killing of non-Iranian “Defenders of the Shrine” forces, while audiences of Iran International also confirmed the presence of foreign forces in the crackdown.
Entifadh Qanbar, former spokesperson for the Office of the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Deputy, issued a statement sharply criticizing the Iraqi government, saying:
“Baghdad pays the salaries of Shiite militias; therefore, the Iraqi government bears direct responsibility for these crimes committed in Iran.”
According to the statement, these armed groups had previously played a role in suppressing protests in Iraq in past years.
By January 7, 2026, approximately 800 Iraqi Shiite militiamen had reportedly been deployed to Iran, almost all of them members of Kata’ib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades, and the Badr Organization.
Confirmation of the Presence of “Defenders of the Shrine” Forces
Iran’s Daneshjoo News Agency reported on Tuesday that non-Iranian “Defenders of the Shrine” forces had been killed during the suppression of protests. The agency did not specify the nationalities of these forces. However, in recent years, the Islamic Republic has deployed a combination of Afghan, Iranian, Iraqi, and Lebanese fighters to Syria, collectively referring to them as “Defenders of the Shrine.”
History of Using Proxy Forces to Suppress Protesters in Iran
This is not the first time reports have emerged regarding the presence of proxy forces of the Islamic Republic inside Iran to suppress protesters.
Previously, on November 1, 2022, during the revolutionary “Woman, Life, Freedom” uprising, human rights organizations reported that a special flight from Baghdad Airport transferred a number of Hashd al-Shaabi and Kata’ib Hezbollah forces from Iraq to Mashhad.
At the time, informed sources stated that nearly 150 individuals, wearing special uniforms, were most likely deployed to Mashhad to suppress protests.
Even earlier, in previous years, reports had also surfaced about the deployment of repression forces to Iran from countries supported by the Islamic Republic, including Lebanon.
