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Badr Organization

The Badr Organization is a Shia Islamist group and in , functioning as Iran's longest-standing militia since its formation in 1982–1983 by the (IRGC) as the armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in (SCIRI). Composed initially of Iraqi Shia defectors, prisoners of war, and refugees who fled to during the , the organization expanded from a to a division-sized force by 1988, conducting cross-border operations against Saddam Hussein's regime. Under the leadership of , it transitioned post-2003 into a political entity, founding the in Iraq's parliament and securing cabinet positions while integrating into the state-sanctioned (PMF) after 2014 to counter the (ISIS). The group's defining role in defeating territories in earned it official recognition and funding from the Iraqi government, yet its deep operational and ideological ties to —including material support from the IRGC and pledges of allegiance to Supreme Leader —have enabled to exert influence over Iraq's security and political landscape, often at the expense of national sovereignty. Controversies surrounding the Badr Organization include U.S. court findings of Iranian sponsorship for its terrorist activities, infiltration of Iraqi security institutions to marginalize Sunni communities, and involvement in attacks on U.S. forces, prompting legislative efforts like the 2020 Badr Organization Designation Act to label it a foreign terrorist organization. Despite these issues, its capabilities and electoral clout position it as a pivotal in Iraq's Shia-dominated power structure, balancing anti- contributions against risks of sectarian entrenchment and foreign proxy dynamics.

Origins and Early History

Formation During the Iran-Iraq War

The Badr Organization, originally known as the Badr Brigades or Badr Corps, was formed in 1983 by Iran's (IRGC) during the ongoing Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988), serving as the military arm of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in (SCIRI). SCIRI itself had been established in in 1982 under the direction of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, led by exiled Iraqi Shia cleric , with the explicit goal of replicating Iran's Islamist model in by toppling Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime. The , seeking to exploit Iraqi Shia discontent and bolster its war effort, recruited from among Iraqi prisoners of war, refugees, and army defectors hosted in , training them in IRGC camps to create a proxy force ideologically aligned with velayat-e faqih (guardianship of the jurist). This formation reflected Iran's strategy to internationalize its revolution by arming sectarian kin against a Sunni-dominated adversary, though the recruits' primary motivation stemmed from opposition to Ba'athist repression of Shia religious practices and the 1980 assassination of al-Hakim's father, Grand Ayatollah Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr. Early Badr units, numbering in the low thousands by mid-war, underwent rigorous and tactical training emphasizing , including guerrilla raids and assaults, before deploying to fronts alongside IRGC and forces. Their initial operations included cross-border incursions into starting in 1983, escalating to participation in major offensives such as the 1985 push into Iraqi territory, where they provided , , and against Iraqi units. By 1986, Badr fighters had engaged in combat in northern , including regions, contributing to Iran's temporary territorial gains but suffering high casualties due to their inexperience and reliance on Iranian command structures. This integration deepened Badr's dependence on for funding, weaponry (including and from IRGC stockpiles), and , positioning it as Iran's most embedded Iraqi affiliate amid the war's attritional stalemate. The war's end via UN-brokered in August 1988 left Badr with battle-hardened cadres—estimated at 10,000–15,000 strong—but marginalized within , as Saddam's regime targeted returning exiles and collaborators. Iran's sustained support preserved the group's cohesion, transforming it from a wartime auxiliary into a latent apparatus, though internal debates emerged over balancing anti-Ba'athist with fidelity to Iranian . Sources from U.S. and Western policy institutes, drawing on declassified and defector accounts, consistently portray Badr's genesis as a calculated IRGC initiative rather than organic Iraqi resistance, underscoring Tehran's agency in its creation amid broader proxy-building efforts.

Role as SCIRI's Military Wing

The Badr Organization, initially known as the Badr Brigades or Failaq Badr, was established in –1983 by Iran's (IRGC) as the official military wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), an exile group of Iraqi Shia Islamists founded in in to oppose Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime. Comprising Iraqi prisoners of war, army defectors, and Shia volunteers recruited from refugee communities in , the force was trained and commanded primarily by IRGC officers, reflecting Tehran's strategic aim to cultivate an Iraqi proxy for cross-border operations against during the ongoing Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988). As SCIRI's armed component, Badr functioned as an infantry brigade integrated into Iranian military structures, participating in frontline combat alongside IRGC units from 1983 onward, though assessments describe its battlefield effectiveness as limited due to inexperience and reliance on Iranian leadership. By 1984, it had expanded to brigade strength, and by 1988, it approached division size with thousands of fighters, conducting raids and supporting Iranian offensives while advancing SCIRI's ideological goal of establishing a Shia Islamic government in modeled on Iran's velayat-e faqih system. This role solidified Badr's dependence on Iranian funding, logistics, and command, positioning it as an extension of Tehran's over Iraqi opposition rather than an independent force. Under SCIRI's political oversight, led by figures like , Badr's operations emphasized , including infiltration and sabotage, but yielded minimal territorial gains against Iraqi forces, underscoring its primary utility as a reservoir of trained Iraqi Shia loyalists for post-war contingencies. The organization's structure mirrored IRGC models, with subunits focused on intelligence gathering and , fostering a cadre that would later transition from exile militancy to institutionalized power in .

Post-2003 Developments

Return to Iraq and Initial Integration

Following the U.S.-led of in March 2003 and the subsequent fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the Badr Organization—previously operating as the Badr Corps from bases in —returned to Iraqi soil within weeks, entering alongside or shortly after advances to exploit the resulting . The group's estimated 10,000 to 20,000 fighters, trained and armed by 's (IRGC), rapidly deployed to Shia-majority areas in southern , , and Diyala province, where they conducted patrols, secured offices, and targeted remnants of Baathist forces and Sunni insurgents. This return marked a shift from to active participation, bolstered by leader Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim's in May 2003, though his assassination in a car bombing on August 29, 2003, in elevated his brother and positioned Badr's commander as a key operational figure. Initial political integration occurred through SCIRI's inclusion in the U.S.-appointed in July 2003, where the organization provided informal security and intelligence support to the transitional framework, despite U.S. suspicions of its Iranian ties and reports of early sectarian reprisals against Sunnis. Badr avoided direct confrontation with forces initially, cooperating sporadically against al-Qaeda-linked groups while embedding operatives in emerging Iraqi institutions; by late 2003, hundreds of its IRGC-trained members had infiltrated units and provisional militias in Shia regions, laying groundwork for formalized absorption. This phase saw Badr rebrand from its military-focused Badr identity toward a hybrid political-security entity, aligning with Iraq's interim government processes under the . Security integration accelerated informally from 2003 to 2005, with Badr fighters joining the new and army ranks amid the urgent need to fill security voids, though U.S. officials documented instances of Badr-led death squads targeting suspected insurgents, contributing to rising sectarian tensions. Following the January 2005 transitional elections, where secured significant parliamentary seats, Badr's influence deepened as affiliates like Bayan Jabr al-Sulagh assumed the in May 2005, enabling systematic placement of organization loyalists—estimated in the thousands—into commandos and intelligence roles, despite documented abuses including detentions and extrajudicial killings. This embedding, while stabilizing Shia areas against , fueled accusations from Sunni communities and U.S. analysts of Iranian dominance within Iraq's nascent state apparatus.

Expansion in Security and Political Spheres

Following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of , the Badr Organization rapidly expanded its presence within the country's security sector by integrating former fighters into the newly formed Iraqi Army and forces. Many Badr members, who had operated from exile in during Saddam Hussein's rule, returned and secured positions through affiliations with the (ISCI), leveraging the power vacuum to embed loyalists in key institutions. This integration was particularly pronounced under Bayan Jabr, a senior Badr figure who served as Minister of the Interior from May 2005 to June 2006; during his tenure, Badr-affiliated personnel were appointed to senior roles, including the creation of Commando units staffed with loyalists. These appointments drew widespread accusations from U.S. officials, Sunni Arab leaders, and observers of enabling , including the operation of death squads that targeted Sunni civilians during the height of Iraq's from 2005 to 2007. Reports documented instances of and extrajudicial killings linked to facilities under Jabr's oversight, with American forces discovering abused detainees in secret bunkers in late 2005; Jabr denied systematic infiltration but acknowledged individual militia memberships among personnel. In provinces like Diyala, Badr leader directly commanded local army and police units, consolidating control over security operations amid ongoing sectarian tensions. Politically, the Badr Organization transitioned from a primarily entity to a influential player by aligning with ISCI in Iraq's inaugural post-invasion elections, contributing to the Shia-led United Iraqi Alliance's victories and securing ministerial portfolios. , Badr's secretary-general since the early 2000s, exemplified this shift by assuming the role of Minister of from 2010 to 2016, during which he oversaw infrastructure projects amid persistent instability. The organization's political arm, formalized as the Badr Organization for Reconstruction and Development, later led the , which captured 22 seats in the 2014 parliamentary elections and expanded to 48 seats in 2018, enabling leverage in coalition governments and the Coordination Framework alliance. This dual expansion entrenched Badr's influence, allowing it to shape and parliamentary decisions, often in coordination with Iranian interests, while facing criticism for prioritizing Shia dominance over national reconciliation efforts in the fragile post-2003 order.

Military Operations and Capabilities

Fight Against ISIS as Part of PMF

Following the rapid territorial gains by the (ISIS) in northern and central during mid-2014, the Badr Organization integrated into the (PMF), a of mostly Shia militias formalized under Iraqi government authority in June 2014 to counter the ISIS offensive. Leveraging its pre-existing structure and estimated 10,000-50,000 fighters, Badr mobilized additional recruits in response to Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani's on July 13, 2014, which called for popular ; one Badr recruiter reported receiving 7,000 applications within days. Under the command of , Badr units operated alongside Iraqi army and federal police forces, often with Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) advisory support, contributing to the recapture of key areas while employing tactics that included direct assaults and coordination with U.S.-led airstrikes. Badr participated in early operations to break ISIS sieges on Shia-majority towns, notably joining forces to lift the encirclement of Amerli in late August to September 1, 2014, where combined PMF-Iraqi-Kurdish-Peshmerga units defeated defenders after a two-month standoff. In March 2015, Badr brigades advanced on , driving tanks in tandem with Iraqi forces to reclaim the city from control by early April, though the operation stalled amid heavy resistance and required U.S. airstrikes to dislodge entrenched fighters. Further engagements included the May 2016 Fallujah offensive, where Badr units helped encircle and assault positions, culminating in the city's liberation on June 26 after weeks of urban combat that displaced over 80,000 civilians. In the climactic Battle of Mosul, launched October 17, 2016, Badr forces supported the eastern axis advance alongside Iraqi troops and Kurdish , cutting ISIS supply lines to and engaging in house-to-house fighting; by November 2016, they had helped secure initial outskirts despite U.S. objections to their inclusion over documented abuses. The organization's efforts extended to Diyala province, where it disrupted ISIS remnants through 2017, contributing to the group's territorial defeat in Iraq by December 2017. However, Badr's operations were marred by credible reports of sectarian reprisals, including summary executions of suspected ISIS collaborators, property destruction, and forced displacements of Sunni civilians in recaptured areas like and , actions that attributed to lack of accountability and which reportedly fueled local resentment.

Other Conflicts and Engagements

The Badr Organization deployed fighters to during the , supporting the Assad regime alongside other Iranian-backed militias. In 2013, Badr units were primarily stationed in and participated in multiple armed confrontations against Syrian rebels. On July 13, 2013, the group publicly announced its military involvement in , operating under banners such as the Martyr Forces. From 2011 to at least 2025, Badr's political control over Iraq's Ministry of Transport facilitated logistics and supply lines for Iranian operations into , including personnel and materiel transit. Within Iraq, Badr forces engaged in clashes with Peshmerga units in northern regions following the October 2017 . As part of Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), Badr participated in operations to seize disputed territories like , leading to direct confrontations with forces. These actions aligned with Baghdad's efforts to reassert central government control over areas historically contested between Arab Shia militias and authorities. The organization has also conducted direct attacks on U.S. forces in , reflecting its opposition to American presence despite periods of tactical post-2003. Such engagements underscore Badr's prioritization of Iranian-aligned strategic objectives over broader frameworks. No verified reports indicate significant Badr involvement in or other external theaters beyond .

Organizational Structure and Leadership

Internal Hierarchy and Factions

The Badr Organization maintains a centralized leadership structure dominated by Hadi al-Ameri, who has served as secretary-general since at least the mid-2000s, overseeing both political and military operations. This position grants Ameri authority over strategic decisions, including coordination with the (PMF) and alignment with Iranian interests. A council, comprising Ameri alongside figures such as Qasim al-Araji and possibly others like Husseini and Mohammed al-Gharawi, provides consultative input on internal governance and policy. Deputy leaders, including Muen al-Kadhimi who handles operations in western , support the secretary-general in regional command roles. Militarily, the organization operates through a network of PMF brigades rather than distinct ideological factions, reflecting its evolution from a unified Iran-trained force into a state-integrated entity with subunit specialization. As of 2021, Badr controls at least ten state-funded PMF brigades, including the 1st, 4th, 5th, 9th, 10th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 27th, deployed across provinces like Diyala, Baghdad, and Kirkuk for security and counterinsurgency tasks. Additional affiliates extend influence to brigades such as the 2nd, 16th, and others, totaling over 50,000 fighters under loose Badr oversight. These brigades function as operational subunits with brigade-specific commanders, such as Bashir al-Anbaki leading the 23rd Brigade in Khanaqin and Diyala areas, enabling decentralized tactical execution while maintaining loyalty to central leadership. Internal cohesion is bolstered by cadres drawn from historical exile groups, including the "rafha" contingent—senior leaders originating from a Saudi refugee camp post-1991 uprising—alongside veterans from Iranian and Syrian training camps, minimizing overt factionalism compared to rival Shia militias. However, tensions arise from dual political-military roles, with some subunits prioritizing state integration under PMF formalization laws enacted in 2016, while others retain informal ties to Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force advisors. No major splinter factions have emerged publicly, though brigade-level autonomy can foster localized power bases that challenge unified command during political transitions.

Key Figures and Succession

Hadi al-Amiri serves as the secretary-general and primary leader of the Badr Organization, a position he has held since the group's integration into Iraq's political and security structures following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Born in 1954 in Diyala Province, al-Amiri participated in combat operations on the Iranian side during the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, establishing early connections with Iran's (IRGC). His leadership has encompassed both military command during operations against the (ISIS) and political maneuvering, including roles as transportation minister from 2010 to 2014 and head of the Organization of the State of Law bloc in parliament. The organization's internal hierarchy features a council comprising al-Amiri alongside deputies and advisors such as Qassim al-Araji, who served as Iraq's interior minister from 2016 to 2018 and maintains influence over security appointments, and Muen al-Kadhimi, a deputy leader overseeing operations in western . Other notable figures include Mohammed Ghabban, former interior minister, Karim al-Nouri, a parliamentary representative, and Ali al-Allaq, involved in economic portfolios. These individuals, often veterans of the Iran-Iraq War exile period, balance military, political, and administrative roles within the Badr framework, which formalized as a in 2014. Leadership succession in the Badr Organization has remained stable under al-Amiri, with no publicly documented transfers of the secretary-general role, despite internal factional tensions and broader shifts in Shia alliances post-2009. This continuity stems from the group's origins as the military arm of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), where authority transitioned from SCIRI founder —assassinated in 2003—to his brother , whose 2009 death prompted to lead the renamed (ISCI), while al-Amiri steered Badr toward independent operations aligned with Iran-backed networks. Al-Amiri's enduring control reflects his command of the ' 2nd Brigade, comprising approximately 15,000 fighters, and his navigation of intra-Shia rivalries without yielding top authority.

Ideology and Strategic Objectives

Khomeinist Influences and Goals

The Badr Organization's ideological foundations are deeply rooted in , the revolutionary doctrine articulated by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, which posits the velayat-e faqih () as the basis for governance and mandates the active export of Shia Islamic revolution against perceived imperialist and secular tyrannies. Established in 1983 by the (IRGC) amid the Iran-Iraq War, the group drew from Iraqi Shia exiles and prisoners of war, instilling Khomeini's principles through military training in Iranian camps that emphasized , martyrdom drawn from Shia narratives like , and absolute clerical authority. Badr's early members demonstrated this fealty through pledges of unconditional obedience to Khomeini, as articulated by future leader in the 1980s: “we are with the Imam [Khomeini]…if our Imam says war then we say its war; If Imam says peace then its peace.” The organization's primary goals, aligned with Khomeini's vision of regional Islamic transformation, centered on overthrowing Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime—viewed as an extension of secular hostile to Shia interests—and replicating Iran's theocratic model in through armed struggle and political infiltration. This included fostering a revolutionary movement patterned after in , prioritizing the establishment of "Jafari rule" (governance under Twelver Shia ) to assert Shia dominance, often framed as the "Shi’ite project" for centralized clerical oversight in rather than mere regional autonomy. While pragmatic adaptations occurred post-2003 to navigate 's system, Badr's core objectives retained an emphasis on embedding Iranian-style export via security control and ideological propagation. After Khomeini's death in 1989, Badr transferred its doctrinal allegiance to , whom leaders like al-Amiri have publicly hailed as the preeminent authority over the global Islamic community (), ensuring sustained alignment with Tehran's clerical hierarchy and resistance to non-Islamic influences in . This continuity underscores Badr's role as a conduit for Khomeinist , blending operations with efforts to institutionalize Shia Islamist .

Alignment with Iranian Interests

The Badr Organization, founded by Iran's (IRGC) in 1982–1983 as the Badr Brigades, originated as a direct instrument of Tehran's wartime strategy to recruit Iraqi Shia exiles for combat against Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime during the Iran- War, thereby advancing Iran's goal of undermining a key regional adversary while exporting Khomeinist ideology. This foundational role established Badr as Iran's longest-standing proxy in Iraq, with sustained military training, arming, and funding from the IRGC-Quds Force, enabling the group to embed Iranian operational doctrines into Iraqi Shia militancy. Leadership ties further cement this alignment, particularly through Secretary-General , who fought on Iran's front lines in the 1980s and developed personal connections with IRGC commanders, including the late head Qassem Soleimani, fostering coordination on suppressing U.S. influence and securing Shia dominance in Iraq's post-2003 political order. Al-Amiri's statements, such as his 2017 advocacy for parliamentary expulsion of U.S. forces, echo Iran's longstanding objective of expelling American military presence to consolidate a pro-Tehran government amenable to economic and strategic concessions, including oil exports and overland supply routes to Syrian allies. Strategically, Badr advances Iranian interests by leveraging its integration into Iraq's (PMF) since 2014 to control security portfolios and provincial administrations, particularly in Diyala and eastern Iraq, where it enforces policies that prioritize Shia militias over national armed forces, thereby diluting Iraqi sovereignty and facilitating Tehran's veto power over Baghdad's foreign alignments. This includes countering Sunni insurgencies like not merely for Iraqi stability but to eliminate threats to Iran's "Axis of Resistance," while Badr's political wing within the Shia Coordination Framework blocks anti-Iranian legislation and supports Iran's regional posture against and . Such actions align with Tehran's causal aim of creating a contiguous Shia corridor from to the Mediterranean, using Iraqi proxies to project power without direct conventional engagement. Critics, including U.S. designations of Badr-linked entities as terrorist organizations in September 2025, highlight its role in Iran-backed attacks on forces, underscoring how the group's operational autonomy masks deference to directives that prioritize disrupting Western influence over purely national Iraqi defense. Despite occasional frictions, such as intra-PMF rivalries, Badr's consistent prioritization of Iranian strategic imperatives—evident in its restraint from overt infighting that could weaken the broader proxy network—demonstrates a pragmatic where Iraqi Shia agency serves Tehran's hegemonic ambitions in the .

Political Influence in Iraq

Electoral Participation and Alliances

The Badr Organization entered formal Iraqi electoral politics in the post-2003 period through its historical ties to the (ISCI), contributing candidates to Shia coalitions, but gained independent prominence after 2014. In the 2014 parliamentary elections, Badr-affiliated candidates secured approximately 22 seats within Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's . By 2018, Badr led the formation of the , a political coalition uniting (PMF) factions, which contested the May parliamentary elections and won 48 seats in the 329-member Council of Representatives; Badr itself claimed around 22 of these, leveraging its military role against to build voter support in Shia-majority areas. In the subsequent October 2021 elections, amid youth-led protests decrying militia influence, Fatah's seats dropped to 17, with Badr retaining a core but diminished bloc of about 8 initially, later stabilized through coalition negotiations. Badr's alliances center on the Shia Coordination Framework, a post-2021 grouping of Iran-aligned parties including al-Maliki's State of Law and , aimed at countering Muqtada al-Sadr's movement and securing government posts; this framework has enabled Badr to influence cabinet positions, such as Hadi al-Amiri's prior tenure as transport minister. In provincial elections, Badr performed strongly in December 2023 under al-Amiri's "Talahof Nabni" (We Are Building) coalition, gaining control in key Shia provinces like Maysan and Diwaniyah. For the November 11, 2025, parliamentary elections, Badr Organization leader launched the group's standalone campaign on October 5, 2025, fielding 460 candidates across all provinces—including Sunni areas—to broaden appeal, while major Shia rivals like al-Sadr's bloc run separately, potentially fragmenting votes but allowing Badr to position as a within the Coordination Framework.

Control Over State Institutions

The Badr Organization maintains substantial influence over Iraqi state institutions primarily through its leadership of the , which secured 48 seats in the 2021 parliamentary elections and participates in the Shia Coordination Framework dominating post-2021 governance. This political leverage enables Badr affiliates to secure ministerial portfolios and embed personnel in security apparatuses, facilitating the integration of militia loyalists into formal state structures. Badr has historically controlled the Ministry of Interior, consolidating its hold from 2014 to 2018 under affiliates like Mohammed Ghabban, and retaining influence over federal police and units thereafter, which has allowed militia elements to operate under official auspices. The organization also dominated the Ministry of Transport for approximately eight years between 2011 and 2025, including Hadi al-Amiri's tenure as minister from 2010 to 2014, leveraging it to facilitate cross-border logistics aligned with Iranian interests during the . In the security sector, Badr forces are embedded within the Ministries of Defense and Interior, as well as the state-sanctioned (PMF), where the group commands multiple brigades and influences command chains, blurring lines between paramilitary and official military operations. Provincial control extends to Diyala, where Badr has governed since the mid-2000s, using local institutions to enforce sectarian security policies. These positions have enabled Badr to shape budgeting, , and personnel decisions, embedding an estimated thousands of fighters into salaried state roles by 2023.

Controversies and Criticisms

Human Rights Abuses and Sectarian Violence

The Badr Organization, through its integration into Iraq's security apparatus following the U.S.-led , has been accused of orchestrating against Sunni Arabs, including extrajudicial executions and conducted via infiltrated and units. From 2004 to 2007, amid Iraq's escalating , Badr forces allegedly participated in death squads that targeted Sunni civilians, mosques, and communities, contributing to thousands of sectarian killings that deepened communal divides. These operations often involved abductions, summary executions, and forced displacements, with Badr's military wing leveraging its training and arms from to embed operatives within official forces for deniable operations. In June 2014, following the Islamic State's capture of prisons in Diyala province, Badr militias were directly implicated in the of at least 170 Sunni men and boys who had escaped or been released, with witnesses reporting Badr fighters rounding up and executing victims in areas like Baquba and Jurf al-Sakhar. documented these acts as part of a broader campaign of killings, where Badr-led groups used lists of alleged to justify shootings, beheadings, and dumpings of bodies in rivers, exacerbating sectarian tensions amid the ISIS offensive. Similar patterns emerged in 2015-2016 during anti-ISIS operations, such as the retaking of and , where Badr-affiliated Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) conducted house-to-house searches resulting in arbitrary detentions, via electric shocks and beatings, and enforced disappearances of Sunni residents suspected of ISIS ties. Badr's control over detention facilities in Shia-dominated areas has facilitated systemic abuses, including sexual violence and indefinite incommunicado detention of Sunnis, as reported in PMU-run sites where oversight by Iraq's of Interior—itself influenced by Badr leaders like Hadi al-Ameri—was minimal. has highlighted how such practices, including the use of heavy weaponry in civilian areas, fueled cycles of retaliation and displacement, with over 1,000 Sunni villages destroyed or abandoned by 2017 due to militia reprisals. Despite Iraqi government vows to investigate, accountability remains elusive, with Badr denying systematic involvement and attributing incidents to rogue elements or ISIS provocations, though independent probes consistently link the group to patterns of sectarian targeting.

Iranian Proxy Role and Sovereignty Concerns

The Badr Organization functions as a primary proxy for the (IRGC), particularly its , which established the group in 1983 during the Iran- War to recruit Iraqi Shia defectors and conduct operations against Saddam Hussein's regime. Iranian authorities provided training, arms, and ideological indoctrination to Badr fighters, embedding loyalty to Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as a core principle, with leader publicly affirming this allegiance in statements such as his 2015 declaration of Khamenei as the ultimate authority. This relationship persists through financial support, operational coordination, and integration into Iran's "Axis of Resistance" network, enabling to project power into without direct military commitment. Evidence of Badr's proxy role includes its participation in Iran-directed activities, such as the orchestration of attacks on U.S. forces and diplomatic facilities. Badr elements contributed to the December 31, 2019, assault on the U.S. Embassy in , which followed the U.S. drone strike killing IRGC-Quds Force commander , a figure with longstanding ties to al-Amiri and Badr operations. U.S. federal courts have ruled that materially supports Badr's terrorist activities, including roadside bombings and rocket attacks targeting American personnel during the , with forensic evidence linking munitions to IRGC supply chains. Al-Amiri's attribution of Badr's successes, such as against , to Iranian backing further underscores this dependency, as he stated in 2017 that "we commend the support of the ." These ties raise profound concerns for , as Badr's paramilitary brigades within the (PMF) frequently bypass Baghdad's chain of command to align with Tehran's directives, effectively subordinating Iraqi security policy to foreign influence. For instance, Badr has infiltrated key state institutions, including the and intelligence services, using its positions to suppress domestic dissent—such as the 2019 protests against corruption and Iranian meddling—while shielding IRGC-linked networks from . This dual loyalty manifests in Badr's prioritization of anti-U.S. and anti- operations over national cohesion, as seen in s issued by al-Amiri against American support for Israel in 2023, mirroring Iranian rhetoric rather than Iraqi interests. Analysts note that such autonomy erodes Iraq's ability to assert independent , fostering a veto power for over Baghdad's decisions and perpetuating sectarian divisions that weaken central governance.

Responses and Defenses from Badr Leadership

, secretary-general of the Badr Organization, has defended the group against accusations of sectarian violence by condemning attacks on Sunni civilians as equivalent to . In response to reported abuses during operations against in areas like Muqdadiya in early 2016, al-Amiri stated that "targeting Sunnis [is] a crime no different from ," positioning Badr's actions as targeted against extremists rather than communities. This framing aligns with broader (PMF) rhetoric, where Badr leaders attribute alleged violations to wartime necessities and isolated incidents, while emphasizing the militia's official integration into Iraq's security apparatus under Prime Ministerial Order No. 91 of 2016. Regarding claims of human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and detentions, Badr officials have acknowledged that violations may occur but denied systematic policy, with al-Amiri reportedly commenting, "I don't claim that there are never violations," in reference to operations against insurgents. Leadership has countered such allegations by highlighting Badr's contributions to defeating , arguing that the group's presence is essential to prevent terrorist resurgence, as articulated in statements justifying sustained PMF deployments: "We will maintain our presence to fight in as long as terrorist threats persist." Critics' reports from organizations like are often dismissed implicitly as overlooking the context of counterinsurgency against groups committing against Shia populations. On charges of serving as an Iranian undermining Iraqi , al-Amiri has asserted Badr's and , describing the as complementing rather than supplanting the Iraqi . In a 2015 interview, he rejected notions of militia dominance, stating that groups like Badr were "filling gaps left by [the army]" in the fight against , while maintaining fraternal ties with as a neighbor without subordinating Iraqi interests. Badr has further defended against U.S. sanctions—such as those designating al-Amiri personally in for support—by portraying them as politically motivated interference, emphasizing the group's role in stabilizing post-2003 and its electoral legitimacy through the , which secured 48 seats in the 2018 parliamentary elections. These responses underscore a of patriotic defense, though empirical evidence of operational coordination with Iran's persists in declassified reports and militia alignments.

International Relations and Sanctions

U.S. and Western Designations

The United States has not designated the Badr Organization as a foreign terrorist organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, nor has it been added to the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals list as a specially designated global terrorist entity. Despite this, U.S. lawmakers have repeatedly introduced legislation to mandate assessments for such designations, citing the group's historical cross-border attacks from Iran into Iraq during the 1980s and 1990s, its infiltration of Iraqi security forces post-2003, and ongoing ties to the IRGC-Qods Force, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2019. For example, the Badr Organization Designation Act of 2020 (H.R. 8844), introduced on December 3, 2020, required the Secretary of State to report on whether the group meets FTO criteria within 90 days, highlighting its role in sectarian violence and threats to U.S. personnel. In April 2025, Representative reintroduced the Iranian Terror Prevention Act, explicitly calling for FTO designations of IRGC-linked Iraqi militias including the Badr Organization, amid concerns over its control of state institutions like the Iraqi and coordination with U.S.-sanctioned groups such as . U.S. officials have also recommended terrorist designations for Badr leader and affiliated factions, though no such actions had been implemented as of October 2025, partly due to Badr's integration into Iraq's formal security structures and its role in anti-ISIS operations, which complicated full sanctions. Other Western governments, including those in the and the , have not proscribed the Badr Organization as a terrorist entity or imposed targeted sanctions on it under their respective regimes. The EU's framework lists sanctions against individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida, ISIL/Da'esh, and but omits Badr, reflecting a focus on groups with direct operations in or broader global threats rather than Iraq-centric proxies. Similarly, the UK's proscribed list, updated periodically, does not include Badr among its 84 international terrorist organizations as of 2025. This absence aligns with Western priorities emphasizing Iranian nuclear issues and IRGC sanctions over designations of politically embedded Iraqi Shia militias.

Relations with Regional Actors

The Badr Organization maintains its closest regional alliance with , having been established in 1982 under the auspices of the (IRGC) as the military wing of Iraqi Shia exiles opposed to . This relationship persists through ongoing training, funding, and operational coordination, positioning Badr as Iran's primary proxy in for advancing Tehran's influence via the (PMF). Badr's leadership, including figures like , frequently coordinates with IRGC-Quds Force commanders, enabling joint activities such as intelligence sharing and cross-border logistics. In , Badr has deployed fighters since July 2013 to support the regime, forming a dedicated wing known as Quwet al-Shahid al-Sadr or Badr al-Janah al-Askari fi Suriya, primarily stationed in and provinces. These units participated in key operations, including the 2016 siege of , aligning with ian strategy to preserve a Shia corridor from to the Mediterranean. Badr's Syrian involvement underscores its role in 's regional axis, with fighters returning to battle-hardened and ideologically reinforced. Relations with Sunni-majority , particularly , remain adversarial, rooted in Badr's perception of as a sponsor of Sunni extremism and a counterweight to Iranian influence. In January 2016, Badr leaders demanded Iraq sever diplomatic ties with following the execution of Shia cleric , accusing of fueling . Senior Badr official Mohammed Mahdi al-Bayati has publicly blamed and the for attempting to revive in as of May 2020. Similar tensions extend to other Gulf actors, with Badr's Iran-centric orientation precluding normalization efforts. Ties with Iraqi Kurds are marked by territorial disputes and occasional clashes, particularly over oil-rich areas like . Badr forces joined PMF operations in October 2017 to dislodge Kurdish from following the , contributing to the ' surrender on October 16. Ongoing frictions include Badr's opposition to autonomy aspirations, with reports of Badr-linked attacks on bases in province as recently as January 2024. Despite sporadic cooperation against , Badr's expansion in disputed northern territories exacerbates ethnic tensions. Badr espouses staunch opposition to , framing it as an existential threat aligned with its pro-Iranian ideology. The group has endorsed attacks on targets, with leaders pledging support for the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" against occupation as of August 2024. This stance has intensified in recent years, bringing Badr into rhetorical alignment with IRGC-backed escalations, though direct involvement in cross-border strikes remains limited compared to other PMF factions.

Recent Developments and Current Status

Post-ISIS Evolution

Following the Iraqi military's declaration of victory over ISIS's territorial caliphate on December 9, 2017, the Badr Organization transitioned from frontline combat roles to a multifaceted entity emphasizing counterinsurgency, institutional entrenchment within the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), and expansion into security and economic spheres. As a founding PMF member, Badr's brigades—numbering around 15,000-20,000 fighters—continued operations against ISIS sleeper cells and remnants in areas like Diyala Province, where they conducted patrols, intelligence gathering, and targeted raids to prevent resurgence. This phase marked a shift toward asymmetric warfare, with Badr leveraging its pre-ISIS experience in border security and infiltration tactics to secure frontiers against illicit crossings and insurgent infiltration. Under Secretary-General Hadi al-Amiri's command, Badr capitalized on the 2016 PMF Law, which formalized its units (e.g., 2nd, 5th, 7th, and 12th Brigades) as state-sponsored entities eligible for salaries, equipment, and legal protections, thereby evolving from an Iran-trained exile militia into a semi-official arm of 's security apparatus. This integration provided budgetary support—PMF allocations reached approximately $2.5 billion annually by 2019—enabling recruitment drives and modernization, though autonomy persisted, allowing independent decision-making on deployments. Post-2017, Badr assumed control over key in eastern , including facilities and checkpoints, fostering economic self-sufficiency through oversight and reconstruction contracts, which critics attribute to resource extraction rather than national rebuilding. By the early 2020s, Badr's evolution reflected broader PMF dynamics, with the group prioritizing internal stabilization over external threats, including suppression of protests in 2019-2020 and coordination with Iranian advisors for and missile capabilities amid U.S.-Iraq tensions. Internal fractures emerged by 2024, as rival PMF factions exploited Badr's leadership disputes to challenge al-Amiri's dominance, yet the organization retained core influence through its 40+ parliamentary seats via allied blocs and command over PMF intelligence units. As of 2025, Badr continues low-intensity operations against holdouts while navigating 's fragile sovereignty, maintaining Iranian logistical ties for training in and weapons procurement, underscoring its hybrid status as both state-integrated force and transnational proxy.

Ongoing Challenges and Iranian Ties as of 2025

The Badr Organization continues to grapple with internal political fragmentation and external pressures as Iraq approaches its November 2025 parliamentary elections. Led by Hadi al-Amiri, the group is contesting independently with 460 candidates across all provinces, including Sunni-majority areas, in a bid to expand influence amid Shiite bloc rivalries. Al-Amiri has framed the elections as a "decisive moment" for Iraq's future, highlighting Badr's push for political renewal while navigating competition from other factions within the Coordination Framework, which has opted for separate electoral lists. A recent assassination linked to sectarian tensions has further clouded the electoral landscape, potentially eroding support for Iranian-aligned groups like Badr and exposing vulnerabilities in their coalition-building efforts. Security and integration challenges persist within Iraq's (PMF), where Badr maintains significant control over state institutions but faces U.S.-led efforts to curb influence. Although Badr avoided inclusion in expanded U.S. terrorist designations targeting other PMF factions in September 2025, broader American campaigns against pro-Iran elements are straining Iraq's political partnerships and complicating Badr's state integration. Iraq's security apparatus, including PMF units under Badr's sway, contends with resource shortages and ongoing terror threats from remnants of , limiting operational effectiveness. Regional shifts, such as escalating Middle Eastern conflicts, exacerbate Iraq's fragile stability, forcing Badr to balance autonomy against calls for or . Badr's longstanding ties to Iran remain a core operational pillar, with the group widely regarded as Tehran's oldest proxy in Iraq, originally formed and trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the 1980s. These connections facilitate material support, ideological alignment, and coordination within the "Axis of Resistance," enabling Badr's military wing to sustain activities despite Iraqi government efforts at PMF reform. In 2025, amid U.S. designations of other Iran-backed militias, Badr's evasion of similar measures underscores its entrenched political leverage, though it continues to draw scrutiny for facilitating IRGC-linked operations, including potential terrorist activities. Iranian influence persists through Badr's dominance in pro-Tehran PMF factions, complicating Iraq's sovereignty as the group resists full subordination to central authority.

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