Iran’s empire of proxy fighters

A network of foreign militias built by General Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian commander killed in Iraq by the U.S., are likely to remain Tehran’s primary weapon in its asymmetric fight against Washington


Government relationships with Iran and Tehran’s proxy forces
Aligned 	Tilting towards	Neutral/hedging 	Opposed to Iran


LEBANON: Shiite Hezbollah – group formed in 1982 following Israel’s occupation of south Lebanon

SYRIA: Popular Mobilization Forces, 313 Force, Liwa al-Baqir, Quwat al-Ridha militias – all linked to Hezbollah

AFGHANISTAN: Liwa al-Fatemiyoun

PAKISTAN: Liwa Zainabiyoun

BAHRAIN: Al-Ashtar Brigades

YEMEN: Ansar Allah – 100,000-strong Houthi rebel group – has called for attacks on U.S. bases in reprisal for killing of Qassem Soleimani (inset)

IRAQ: Badr Organisation – most powerful force in Iraq – Asaib Ahl al-Haq, Kataib Hizbullah, Harakat Hizbullah al-Nujaba

PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES: Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, Harakat al-Sabireen


TURKEY
IRAQ
Tehran
IRAN
KUWAIT
UAE
QATAR
SAUDI ARABIA
YEMEN 
OMAN
800km 500 miles


Sources: Bloomberg, ECFR, IISS 
Picture: Associated Press 
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