Involvement of foreign militias in the suppression of protests in Iran

The use of non-Iranian militias by the Islamic Republic of Iran in the suppression of protests in Iran has occurred particularly during periods of major civil unrest. These militias are often backed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and include groups from Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. ^{[1] [2]} Their involvement is usually considered a part of a broader Iranian government strategy to maintain internal stability using its network of loyal, non-local militias.

Background

Iran has financed and supported a network of foreign militias under the banner of the "Axis of Resistance," primarily through the IRGC's Quds Force. These groups, which have fought in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, have also been deployed domestically when the Iranian regime faces widespread protests. ^[3] According to Iran International , "The reason behind this move by the Islamic Republic could be its concern that the Iranian police might not follow orders to attack unarmed, ordinary people, or simply because its forces are insufficient to stop protests in more than 100 cities". ^[4]

Key militia groups involved

Hezbollah drill in Aaramta 2023

• Lebanese Hezbollah : Hezbollah has played an important role in Iran's regional strategy and has reportedly assisted in monitoring and suppressing protests inside Iran. The group's operatives have been deployed alongside Iranian security forces to provide tactical support and intelligence gathering. ^{[5] [6]}
• Iraqi Militias (Hashd al-Shaabi/Popular Mobilization Forces): Various factions of the Hashd al-Shaabi, particularly those closely tied to the IRGC, have been accused of participating in the crackdown on Iranian demonstrators. These militias have experience in urban warfare and have been used to bolster Iranian security forces during large-scale protests. ^{[7] [2]}
• Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade: The Fatemiyoun Brigade, an Afghan Shia militia trained and funded by Iran, has been involved in domestic repression. Many of its members, recruited from Afghan refugees in Iran, were initially deployed to Syria but have since been used to counter dissent in Iran. ^{[3] [2]}
• Pakistani Zainabiyoun Brigade: The Pakistani Zainabiyoun were reportedly used to suppress protests during the 2018–2019 protests as well as the 2025–2026 Iranian protests. ^{[8] [2]}
• Yemeni Houthis: The Yemeni Houthis were reportedly used to suppress protests during the 2018–2019 protests. ^[8]

Protests

• 2009 Iranian presidential election protests: On 16 June 2009, Der Spiegel reported that the Iranian government recruited 5,000 Lebanese Hezbollah fighters to clash with protesters. ^[9]
• 2018–2019 protests: In early March 2019, during, Musa Ghazanfarabadi, head of the Islamic Courts in Tehran, hinted that Iran use foreign proxy forces, namely the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi, the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade, the Pakistani Zainebiyoun, and Yemeni Houthis, to manage internal unrest. ^[8]
• 2022–2023 Mahsa Amini protests: In the wake of Mahsa Amini's death in 2022, reports surfaced that Iran had brought in Iraqi allies, specifically members of Hashd al-Shaabi and Kata'ib Hezbollah, to assist in cracking down on protests. Eyewitnesses reported the arrival of these forces in Iran, suggesting their involvement in suppressing the demonstrations. ^[4]
• 2025–2026 Iranian protests: During the 2025–2026 protests, the presence of Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, Arabic-speaking mercenaries, Lebanese Hezbollah, Pakistani Liwa Zainabiyoun, and Afghan Liwa Fatemiyoun in suppressing protests was reported. ^{[10] [11] [12] [6] [2]} On 6 January 2026, it was reported that approximately 800 members of Iraqi Shia militia groups, including Kata'ib Hezbollah, Harakat al-Nujaba, Sayyid al-Shuhada, and Badr organization, had been sent to Iran. ^[12] The troops were reportedly transported through the border crossings of Shalamcheh, Chazhabeh, and Khosravi, officially under the cover of a "pilgrimage to the holy sites of Imam Reza in Mashhad," while in practice they were gathered at a base in Ahvaz before being dispatched to various regions to assist in suppressing protests. ^[12] On 9 January 2026, the United States warned Iran against using foreign militias to crush protests. ^[13] According to The Media Line, Iraqi Shiite militia members were recruited to help suppress Iranian protesters, receiving $600 each. By 11 January, more than 60 buses, each carrying about 50 people, had crossed the Iran–Iraq border. ^[14] On 14 January, a source told IHRNGO that the security forces in the Kurdish regions of Iran during the killings did not speak Persian, while in Karaj, an eyewitness said the forces spoke Arabic and took selfies with the bodies. ^[15] On 15 January, an Iraqi source stated to CNN that "nearly 5,000" fighters from Iraqi militias had crossed into Iran over the preceding weeks. ^[16]

See also

• Political repression in the Islamic Republic of Iran
• Funding of the Axis of Resistance

References

1. "Analysis: How the Iranian regime's foreign proxies suppress Iranian protestors". 13 October 2025.
2. "IRGC Quds Force, foreign militia played key role in Iran killings, sources say". Iran International.
3. "Tehran's Shia Foreign Legions". Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
4. "EXCLUSIVE - Iran Reportedly Brings Iraqi Allies To Crack Down On Protests". Iran International . 2022-11-01. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
5. "Hezbollah, Hashd Al-Shaabi Forces Helping Iran Suppress Protests - Reports". www.iranintl.com. 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
6. "Iran regime said to unleash Hezbollah and Iraqi militias as uprising spreads". Fox News . 8 January 2026.
7. Cairo, Waleed Abu al-Khair in. "Iran's reliance on foreign militias shows scale of IRGC crisis". Diyaruna. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
8. "Iran Hints at Using Foreign Militias in Domestic Crackdown". Voice of America . 2019-03-18. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
9. Putz, Ulrike (2009-06-15). "Aufstand in Teheran: "Betet für uns!"". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN   2195-1349 . Retrieved 2025-02-10.
10. "What Does Iran's Use of Iraqis and Afghans to Suppress Protests Mean?". Middle East Forum . 3 January 2026.
11. "Iran using Iraqi militias to help crush protests, sources say". Iran International . 7 January 2026.
12. "تاکنون حدود ۸۰۰ نفر از شبه‌نظامیان شیعه عراقی برای سرکوب مردم به ایران اعزام شده‌اند | ایران اینترنشنال". Iran International . 7 January 2026.
13. "US warns Iran against using foreign fighters to crush protests". Iran International . 2026-01-10. Retrieved 2026-01-10.
14. Hussain, Ali (13 January 2026). "For $600, Iraqi Militia Members Were Recruited To Suppress Iranian Protests, Mother of Recruit Tells TML". The Media Line. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
15. "At Least 3,428 Protesters Killed in Iran; Serious Risk of Protester Executions". Iran Human Rights . Retrieved 2026-01-15.
16. Bell, Melissa; Tawfeeq, Mohammed. "Iraqi militias have joined the Iranian regime's crackdown, security sources say". CNN . Retrieved 16 Jan 2026.