Iran Organizing Hezbollah Unit in Iraq
Accusing Iran of raging a proxy war through Shiite extremists, the US military this week said Iran's leadership had a direct role in a sophisticated attack that killed five US troops in Iraq in January. Click here to read the full story.
In its most damning and specific condemnation of Iran's involvement in Iraq to date, the US statement marked a sharp escalation in US accusations that Iran is financing, arming and training Iraqi militants. It is the first time Iran has been directly linked to Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah militia, the region's must disciplined and powerful militant group.
Brigadier General Kevin Bergner accused Iran's elite Republican Guards, the Quds Force, of bringing in Hezbollah operatives to train and organize a similar militia in Iraq. Its purpose is to further destabilize US forces and the fledgling US-supported Iraqi government. "Our intelligence reveals that the senior leadership in Iran is aware of this activity," Bergner said.
Bergner said US forces have incontrovertible proof that the Quds Force is providing up to $3 million a month to Iraqi militants and training them in three camps outside Tehran. The future terrorists are being trained to carry out bombings, raids and kidnappings. Evidence that Quds Force operatives are active in Iraq has been discovered during military raids and arrests since February.
In its most damning and specific condemnation of Iran's involvement in Iraq to date, the US statement marked a sharp escalation in US accusations that Iran is financing, arming and training Iraqi militants. It is the first time Iran has been directly linked to Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah militia, the region's must disciplined and powerful militant group.
Brigadier General Kevin Bergner accused Iran's elite Republican Guards, the Quds Force, of bringing in Hezbollah operatives to train and organize a similar militia in Iraq. Its purpose is to further destabilize US forces and the fledgling US-supported Iraqi government. "Our intelligence reveals that the senior leadership in Iran is aware of this activity," Bergner said.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini unilaterally dismissed the US charges, saying, "American leaders have gotten into the habit of issuing ridiculous and false statement without providing evidence, with political and psychological aims."
Bergner said US forces have incontrovertible proof that the Quds Force is providing up to $3 million a month to Iraqi militants and training them in three camps outside Tehran. The future terrorists are being trained to carry out bombings, raids and kidnappings. Evidence that Quds Force operatives are active in Iraq has been discovered during military raids and arrests since February.
