Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix =

| name = Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

| image = Abu Mahdi Image.jpg

| imagesize = 220px

| image_upright =

| alt =

| caption = Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis

| native_name = {{lang|ar|أبو مهدي المهندس}}

| native_name_lang = ar

| birth_name = {{nobr|Jamal Ja'far Muhammad Ali Al Ibrahim}}

| other_name =

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1954|11|16|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Abu Al-Khaseeb,
Basra Governorate,
Kingdom of Iraq

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|1|3|1954|11|16|df=yes}}

| death_place = Baghdad, Iraq

| death_cause = Assassination

| allegiance = {{flag|Iraq}}

| branch = Popular Mobilization Forces

| serviceyears = 1979–2020

| serviceyears_label =

| rank = Commander

| rank_label =

| unit = Kata'ib Hezbollah
Badr Brigade (formerly)

| commands =

| battles_label =

| battles = {{tree list}}

| relations =

| office = Deputy Chairman of
Popular Mobilization Committee

| term_start = 15 June 2014

| term_end = 3 January 2020

| office1 = Secretary-General of Kata'ib Hezbollah

| term_start1 = October 2003

| term_end1 = 3 January 2020

| successor1 = Ahmad al-Hamidawi

| office2 = Member of Iraqi Parliament

| term_start2 = 2006

| term_end2 = 2007

| nationality = Iraqi

| party = Islamic Dawa Party {{small|(1977–2020)}}

| otherparty = Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq {{small|(1985–2020)}}

| succeeded1 = Ahmad al-Hamidawi

| committees = Axis of Resistance

}}

Jamal Ja'far Muhammad Ali Al Ibrahim ({{langx|ar|جمال جعفر محمد علي آل إبراهيم}} {{Transliteration|ar|Jamāl Jaʿfar Muḥammad ʿAlīy ʾĀl ʾIbrāhīm}}, 16 November 1954 – 3 January 2020), better known by his kunya Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis ({{langx|ar|أبو مهدي المهندس|lit=Father of Mahdi, the Engineer}}), was an Iraqi paramilitary leader and former chief of staff of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). At the time of his death, he was deputy chairman of the PMC.

From 1977, he was an opponent of Saddam Hussein. He became the commander of volunteer militias that grew from the need to combat ISIS, including the Kata'ib Hezbollah paramilitary group,{{cite web |title=Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis: Iraqi killed in US strike was key militia figure |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/03/abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-iraq-iran-militias-suleimani |website=theguardian|date=3 January 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Melman |first1=Yossi |title=Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Head of pro-Iranian Kataib Hezbollah Targeted by U.S. |newspaper=Haaretz |url=https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-iran-kataib-hezbollah-qassem-soleimani-u-s-strike-iraq-syria-israel-1.8344495}} which is designated a terror organisation by the governments of Japan, the US and the UAE;{{Cite web|url=http://www.moj.go.jp/psia/ITH/organizations/ME_N-africa/KH.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190302123316/http://www.moj.go.jp/psia/ITH/organizations/ME_N-africa/KH.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 March 2019|title=カタイブ・ヒズボラ（KH） | 国際テロリズム要覧（Web版） | 公安調査庁|date=2 March 2019}} and prior to that worked with the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) against Saddam's regime. Muhandis was on the United States list of designated terrorists since 2009.

Allegations of terrorism have been levelled against him over his activities in Kuwait in the 1980s.{{cite news |title=Iraqi Army still ineffective despite U.S. training |url=http://www.newsweek.com/iraqi-army-ineffective-despite-us-training-466410 |agency=Reuters |newspaper=Newsweek |date=4 June 2016}} He was sentenced to death in absentia in 2007{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-soleimani-insight-idUSKBN1Z301Z|title=Inside the plot by Iran's Soleimani to attack U.S. forces in Iraq|newspaper=Reuters|date=4 January 2020|via=www.reuters.com}} by a court in Kuwait for his involvement in the 1983 Kuwait bombings.{{cite news|last1=Glanz|first1=James|last2=Santora|first2=Marc|title=Iraqi lawmaker was convicted in 1983 bombings in Kuwait that killed 5 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/world/middleeast/07bomber.html?_r=0 |date=7 February 2007 |access-date=17 August 2015|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web |date=2009-07-02 |title=Treasury Designates Individual, Entity Posing Threat to Stability in Iraq |url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg195.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117084941/https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/tg195.aspx |archive-date=2015-01-17 |website=www.treasury.gov}}{{Cite web |last=Lawrence |first=John |date=26 May 2015 |title=Iraq Situation Report: May 23–25, 2015 |url=http://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iraq-situation-report-may-23-25-2015 |website=understandingwar.org |publisher=Institute for the Study of War |access-date=27 May 2015}} See paragraph 5 of the report. However, this has been disputed due to his role in combating the Ba’ath Party regime rather than supporting it (via attacking Kuwait).{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} The charges were dropped when the new Iraqi government was formed in 2004.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}} The organisations he oversaw, such as the Popular Mobilization Forces have been reported to have close links to the IRGC's Quds Force. Al-Muhandis was held responsible for planning the attack on the American embassy in Baghdad in late December 2019.{{Cite web |last=Dozier |first=Kimberly |date=2020-09-02 |title="Benghazi Definitely Crossed Everyone's Mind": The Inside Story of the U.S. Embassy Attack in Baghdad |url=https://time.com/5885388/us-embassy-baghdad-attack/ |website=Time Magazine}}

He was tracked down and killed by a targeted U.S. drone strike near Baghdad International Airport on 3 January 2020, which also killed the head of Iran's expeditionary Quds Force Qasem Soleimani.{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/02/world/middleeast/qassem-soleimani-iraq-iran-attack.html|title=Iraqi TV Reports Strike Kills Powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander|last1=Hassan|first1=Falih|date=2 January 2020|work=The New York Times|access-date=3 January 2020|last2=Rubin|first2=Alissa J.|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331 |last3=Crowley |first3=Michael}}

Early life and education

His birth name was Jamal Ja'far Muhammad Ali Al Ibrahim. He was born on 16 November 1954 in Abu Al-Khaseeb District, Basra Governorate, Iraq,{{cite web|url=https://www.jesrpress.com/2020/01/03/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AC/|title=شاهد: "شهادة وفاة" أبو مهدي المهندس الرجل الثاني في الحشد الشعبي|website=jesrpress.com|language=ar|date=3 January 2020|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322214052/https://www.jesrpress.com/2020/01/03/%D8%B4%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%AF-%D8%B4%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D9%88-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%87%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D8%AC/|url-status=dead}} to an Iraqi father and an Iranian mother.{{cite news |url=http://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/politics/2015/1/4/fugitive-from-international-justice-now-militia-leader-in-iraq|title=Fugitive from international justice now militia leader in Iraq|author=Othman al-Mukhtar |date=4 January 2015 |work=al-Araby al-Jadeed English}} He finished his studies in engineering in 1977 and in the same year joined the Iraq-based Shi'te Dawa Party, which opposed the Ba'athist government.

Military career

On 1979, after the activity of the Dawa Party was banned and hundreds of opponents were sentenced to death by Saddam Hussein.{{cite web |last1=staff |first1=MEE |title=Who was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis? |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/who-abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-qassem-soleimani-iran-iraq}} Al-Muhandis fled, across the border to Ahvaz in Iran, where the Iranians had set up a camp to train Iraqi dissidents, with the aim of undermining Saddam. He was known as Jamal al-Ibrahimi in Iran and he became a citizen of Iran after a marriage. He began working with Iran's Revolutionary Guard in Kuwait in 1983, organizing attacks on embassies of countries that supported Saddam in the Iran–Iraq War.{{cite news |first=Babak |last=Dehghanpisheh |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-militias-specialreport-idUSKCN0IW0ZA20141112 |title=Special Report: The fighters of Iraq who answer to Iran |date=12 November 2014 |work=Reuters}} Hours after the December 1983 bomb attacks on U.S. and French embassies in Kuwait, he fled to Iran. He was later convicted and sentenced to death in absentia by a court in Kuwait for planning the attacks. He was later appointed a military adviser to the Quds Force, advising on attacks against Iraqi military based in his hometown of Basra.

He returned to Iraq following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq and served as a security adviser to the first Iraqi prime minister after the invasion, Ibrahim al-Jaafari. In 2005, he was elected to the Iraqi Parliament as a Dawa Party representative for the Babil Governorate. When U.S. officials realised his identity and connection with the 1983 attacks, they raised the issue with then-Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki in 2006 or 2007. He had to flee to Iran. He formed Kata'ib Hezbollah between 2003 and 2007.{{cite web |last1=FRANTZMAN |first1=SETH J. |title=Who was Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, killed in US airstrike with Soleimani? |url=https://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Who-was-Abu-Mahdi-al-Muhandis-killed-in-US-airstrike-with-Soleimani-613268 |website=jpost|date=6 January 2020}}[https://2009-2017.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rm/142857.htm Testimony before the Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations] Washington, DC June 8, 2010

He returned to Iraq following the withdrawal of US troops (December 2011) to head the Kata'ib Hezbollah militia; he then became deputy chief of the Popular Mobilization Forces.{{cite web|title=ساختار حشد شعبی عراق؛ تشکل نظامی مردمی|url=http://www.tasnimnews.com/Home/Single/795793|publisher=Tasnim News Agency|language=fa|date=12 July 2015}}

On 31 December 2019, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo named al-Muhandis, along with Qais Khazali, Hadi al-Amiri, and Falih Alfayyadh, as responsible for the attack on the United States embassy in Baghdad.{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/01/03/US-embassy-siege-leader-was-guest-at-White-House-during-Obama-presidency.html|title=US embassy siege leader was guest at White House during Obama presidency|publisher=Al Arabiya English|date=3 January 2020|access-date=4 January 2020|archive-date=4 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104125555/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2020/01/03/US-embassy-siege-leader-was-guest-at-White-House-during-Obama-presidency.html|url-status=dead}}

File:Abu_Mahdi_al-Muhandes_%26_Qasem_Soleimani01.jpg (left) with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (right) at a 2017 ceremony commemorating the father of Soleimani in Tehran]]

=War against ISIL in Iraq=

After the formation of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) as a group in 2014{{cite news|last1=al Khadimi|first1=Mustafa|title=Will Sistani be able to control popular mobilization forces?|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-sistani-righteous-jihad-fatwa-popular-mobilization.html#|access-date=14 March 2015|work=Al-Monitor|date=12 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313111104/http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-sistani-righteous-jihad-fatwa-popular-mobilization.html|archive-date=13 March 2015|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} that originated to help Iraq defeat ISIL, he was appointed to command the group.{{cite news|last1=Sly|first1=Liz|title=Iraq's pro-Iranian Shiite militias lead the war against the Islamic State|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraq-s-pro-iranian-shiite-militias-lead-the-war-against-the-islamic-state-1.329733|access-date=15 March 2015|work=Star and Stripes|date=16 February 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135206/http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraq-s-pro-iranian-shiite-militias-lead-the-war-against-the-islamic-state-1.329733|url-status=dead}} The PMF group was composed of some 40 militias that fought in nearly every major battle against ISIL.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/top-shiite-cleric-calls-for-scaling-back-militia-influence-backing-prime-minister/2017/12/15/8834eb0e-e192-11e7-9eb6-e3c7ecfb4638_story.html|title=Top Iraqi Shiite cleric calls for scaling back militia influence, backing prime minister|last1=El-Ghobashy|first1=Tamer|date=2017-12-15|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2017-12-17|last2=Salim|first2=Mustafa|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}

Sanctions

In 2009, al-Muhandis was sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for allegedly helping the IRGC.{{cite news |last1=Yuhas |first1=Alan |title=Airstrike That Killed Suleimani Also Killed Powerful Iraqi Militia Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/03/world/middleeast/iraq-iran-airstrike-al-muhandis.html |website=The New York Times|date=3 January 2020}} Muhandis was also accused of being linked to the IJO who participated in 1983 United States embassy bombing in Beirut.{{Cite news|last1=Glanz|first1=James|last2=Santora|first2=Marc|date=2007-02-07|title=Iraqi Lawmaker Was Convicted in 1983 Bombings in Kuwait That Killed 5|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/world/middleeast/07bomber.html|access-date=2020-10-04|issn=0362-4331}}

Death

Abu Mahdi was killed on 3 January 2020 around 1:00{{nbsp}}a.m. local time (22:00 UTC 2{{nbsp}}January),{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/01/qassem-soleimani-death-missed/604396/|work=The Atlantic|title=Qassem Soleimani Haunted the Arab World|date=3 January 2020|access-date=3 January 2020|author-link=Kim Ghattas|last1=Ghattas|first1=Kim|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103215246/https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/01/qassem-soleimani-death-missed/604396/|archive-date=3 January 2020|url-status=live}} by the U.S. drone strike which targeted Qasem Soleimani and his convoy near Baghdad International Airport.{{cite web |title=Hashd deputy Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis: Iran's man in Baghdad |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/hashd-deputy-abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-iran-man-baghdad-200103071943304.html |website=aljazeera}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|title=Iraq Militia Officials, Iran's Quds Force Head Killed in U.S. Drone Strike|website=Newsweek|author1=Tom O'Connor|author2=James Laporta|date=2 January 2020|access-date=2 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103030530/https://www.newsweek.com/iraq-militia-official-killed-us-iran-tensions-1480181|archive-date=3 January 2020|url-status=live}} BBC News, NBC News, DW News, Time, The Guardian, Euronews, Al Jazeera and other media outlets have described the killing as an assassination.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50991810|title=Thousands mourn assassinated Iranian general|date=4 January 2020|website=BBC News|access-date=4 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200108032059/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50991810|archive-date=8 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5758250/qasem-soleimani-iran-retaliation/|title=Why the U.S. Is Bracing for Retaliation After Assassinating Iran's Qasem Soleimani|magazine=Time|access-date=5 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103092224/https://time.com/5758250/qasem-soleimani-iran-retaliation/|archive-date=3 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/how-the-soleimani-assassination-was-reported-in-germany/a-51883876|title=How the Soleimani assassination was reported in Germany | DW | 03.01.2020|website=DW.COM|access-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106223124/https://www.dw.com/en/how-the-soleimani-assassination-was-reported-in-germany/a-51883876|archive-date=6 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-assassination-iran-s-qassem-soleimani-was-smart-thing-ncna1111586|title=Opinion | Trump was right to kill Iranian general Qassem Soleimani|website=NBC News|date=7 January 2020 |access-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107050203/https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/trump-s-assassination-iran-s-qassem-soleimani-was-smart-thing-ncna1111586|archive-date=7 January 2020|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/04/suleimani-assassination-fears-grow-bloody-reprisal-funeral-baghdad-tehran|title=Doubts grow over US case for Suleimani assassination as Iran urges revenge|first1=Martin|last1=Chulov|first2=Julian|last2=Borger|first3=Ghaith|last3=Abdul-Ahad|date=5 January 2020|via=www.theguardian.com|access-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107163055/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/04/suleimani-assassination-fears-grow-bloody-reprisal-funeral-baghdad-tehran|archive-date=7 January 2020|url-status=live|newspaper=The Guardian}}

=Reaction=

Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) group mentioned him as one of the symbols of Iraqi liberation from the US occupation and also condolences to the Iraqi for the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.{{cite web |title=World reacts to US killing of Iran's Qassem Soleimani in Iraq |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/world-reacts-killing-iran-qassem-soleimani-iraq-200103072643596.html |website=aljazeera}}

=Funeral and burial=

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On 4 January, a funeral procession for Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Soleimani was held in Baghdad with thousands of mourners in attendance, waving Iraqi and militia flags{{cite news |title=Qasem Soleimani: Mourners gather in Baghdad for funeral procession |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50991810 |access-date=4 January 2020|work=BBC News |date=4 January 2020}} and chanting "death to America, death to Israel".{{cite news |title=Thousands march in Baghdad funeral procession for Qassem Suleimani—video |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2020/jan/04/thousands-of-mourners-march-in-suleimani-funeral-procession-video |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=4 January 2020|date=4 January 2020 |last1=O'Brien |first1=Amy}} The procession started at the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque in Baghdad. Iraq's prime minister, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, and leaders of Iran-backed militias attended the funeral procession.{{cite news |last1=Safi |first1=Michael |title=Qassem Suleimani: chants of 'death to America' at Baghdad funeral |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/04/huge-crowds-expected-in-baghdad-for-funeral-of-iranian-general-killed-by-us |newspaper=The Guardian |access-date=4 January 2020|date=4 January 2020}} They were taken to the holy Shia cities of Najaf{{cite web |last1=Ibrahim |first1=Arwa |title='You never let us down': Thousands mourn Soleimani in Baghdad |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/thousands-mourners-join-soleimani-funeral-baghdad-200104074845279.html |website=aljazeera |access-date=4 January 2020}} and Karbala were held funeral prayers on them.{{cite web |title=Hashd deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis buried in Iraq's Najaf |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/hashd-deputy-leader-abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-buried-iraq-najaf-200107184608000.html |website=aljazeera}}

He was transferred to Iran for the DNA test. A funeral procession was started from Ahvaz then was taken them to Mashhad. On 6 January, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei held funeral prayers among hundreds of thousands of people and crying in front of the flag-draped coffins for the deceased.{{cite news |title=Soleimani: Huge crowds pack Tehran for commander's funeral |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-51004688 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=6 January 2020}}{{cite news |title=Mourners flood Tehran as calls for revenge over Soleimani grow |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/mourners-flood-tehran-calls-revenge-soleimani-grow-200106061955097.html |work=Al Jazeera |date=6 January 2020}} On 7 January, his body was returned to Iraq and transferred to his hometown of Basra.{{cite news |last1=Mohammmed |first1=Aref |last2=Aboulenein |first2=Ahmed |title=Thousands mourn Iran-backed paramilitary linchpin in southern Iraq |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-security-funeral/thousands-mourn-iran-backed-paramilitary-linchpin-in-southern-iraq-idUSKBN1Z61KC |website=reuters|date=7 January 2020}} His burial was delayed because of the huge crowd at the funeral. On 8 January, Al-Muhandis was buried in Iraq's Najaf where hundreds of mourners gathered to pay their final respects. Funeral processions were also held in several Iraqi cities prior to Najaf, including Baghdad and Karbala.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/01/hashd-deputy-leader-abu-mahdi-al-muhandis-buried-iraq-najaf-200107184608000.html|title=Hashd deputy leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis buried in Iraq's Najaf|website=www.aljazeera.com}}

=First anniversary=

On 3 January 2021, the first anniversary of Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis' deaths was observed in Baghdad.{{cite web |title=Iran vows to retaliate against any 'enemy action', one year after Suleimani killing |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/03/iran-vows-to-retaliate-against-any-enemy-action-one-year-after-suleimani-killing |website=The Guardian|date=3 January 2021}} Tens of thousands of Iraqis marched on the highway leading to the airport while chanting anti-American slogans.{{cite news |last1=Nazeh |first1=Maher |title=Chanting anti-US slogans, Iraqi militia supporters mark year since Soleimani's killing |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/iraq-iran-soleimani/chanting-anti-us-slogans-iraqi-militia-supporters-mark-year-since-soleimanis-killing-idUSKBN2980C4 |website=reuters|date=3 January 2021}}