Iranian Commando Arrested in Iraq
Iraqi security forces found and detained a man whom they alleged to be a commando from the elite Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The man is accused of “involvement in facilitating Iranian weapons shipments into Iraq,” a practice thought to be widespread in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency. The man was operating under the cover of working for an organization that restores religious sites in Iraq. The U.S. military has accused Iranian organizations of “arming, training, and funding Iraqi militiamen to stoke the sectarian violence that has convulsed the country since the 2003 US-led invasion.”
Iran has interests in the country and more than likely would not be thrilled at the possibility of a strong U.S. presence in Iraq, as it would undermine Iran’s influence in the region. One of the most effective ways for Iran to become dominant is to destabilize Iraq, until the United States pulls out and it can gain a foothold.
Steven Craig
