Info:
The Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Unit (PMU) militia group has named Abu Fadak al-Mohammadawi as its new leader, succeeding Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis who was killed in Iraq alongside Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani last month;
On February 21 reports indicated that Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a US airstrike on January 3, would finally be replaced in his position as deputy of the Hashd al-Shaabi. Abu Fadak ( أبو فدك) whose real name is Abdul-Aziz al-Muhammadawi (عبد العزيز المحمداوي), formerly close to the Badr Organization, with extensive experience in the 1980s and involved in other operations, will be his replacement;
Abdulaziz al-Mohammadavi is also known by Al-Khal, which means uncle in Arabic. He had a long-time friendship with the slain former chief of the IRGC-QF Qassem Soleimani;
Since 1982, he joined the terrorist Badr organization commanded by Hadi al-Ameri. During the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, as al-Ameri’s assistant, al-Mohammadavi conducted intelligence operations to the benefit of the Iranian regime. He also served as an intelligence agent for the Badr organization in the Kurdistan region;
In 2004, Abu-Fadak refused to have over weapons that his group had amassed during the U.S. invasion on Iraq and kept them for orchestrating terror plots against the Coalition Forces. In this respect, he was ordered by Tehran to organize several terror squads under the Badr’s financial support;
In the same year, Soleimani, the secretary-general of Lebanese Hezbollah, and al-Muhandis incited al-Mohammadavi to establish a joint force. Thereafter, he founded the Iraqi version of Lebanese Hezbollah under the name of “Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH)” in cooperation with another known terrorist Imad al-Muqnieh. This terrorist entity still receives its funds and wages from Hadi al-Ameri directly. Later, the U.S. troops detained him and held in jail for a time, however, the integrators didn’t discover al-Mohammadavi’s real identity. At the time, he became more commonly known by the al-Khal nickname;
Then, in 2006, al-Mohammadavi widened his collaborations with al-Muhandis and received his order from Qassem Soleimani directly. Alhurra.com recently revealed that Hadi al-Ameri suggested his lieutenant ‘al-Khal’ to succeed al-Muhandis;
In December 2015, KH commanded by al-Mohammadavi abducted 26 Qatari hunters, several from the Qatari Emir’s royal family. Notably, al-Mohammadavi’s superiors pursued to gain political privileges in return for the handover of the hostages. However, al-Khal sought to receive $500 million in exchange for releasing hunters;
Some while later, after the scandal became public, other KH commanders fired al-Mohammadavi for abusing his authority. The Iranian decision-makers of KH finally freed the hostages in return for stopping Qatar’s support for Syrian dissidents. Qatar both delivered $500 million and persuaded its sponsored forces in Syria to deliver their territory lands to Assad’s regime;
Remarkably, Soleimani attempted to whitewash the flagrant scandal and cease tensions in the KH hierarchy. However, his efforts failed and KH commanders expelled Abu-Fadak out of the group. But, after the start of the October Revolution in Iraq, al-Mohammadavi rejoined to the KH for a crackdown on the protesters under the direct order of Soleimani;
Another report asserts Abu Fadak is suspected of being responsible for gunmen attacking the Iraqi protesters, especially after the Sinak area massacre in central Baghdad, in which dozens of protesters were killed
The position of deputy of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) is one of the most important security positions in Iraq due to the emerging role of the PMU after the defeat of ISIS. The PMU has influence both in securing frontiers, confronting protesters, potential clashes with the US, clandestine prisons, covert operations in Syria and Lebanon with allied groups, and also transferring and storing weapons. PMU groups have been involved in rocket attacks on US troops at bases in Iraq and even in alleged attacks on Saudi Arabia in 2019. The PMU includes some 60 units from various umbrella groups such as Badr and Kataib Hezbollah;
Abu Fadak’s role has been announced in Iran, making him a key player in the nexus between the IRGC, Iraq’s interior ministry, and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Press TV in Iran confirms some of the details we have reported. It notes that Abu Ali al-Basri (Bassari) said “following the appointment, the chief-commander of the Iraqi armed forces will sign Abu Fadak’s decree in the next couple of days.” It notes that he had served as the secretary-general of Kata’ib Hezbollah;
Also Known As:
Abu-Fadak
Al-Khal
Abdulaziz Al-Mohammadavi
Country:
Iraq
Nationality:
Iraqi
Reason for the color:
» PMF appoints new deputy head as successor to Al-Muhandis;
» Who is Abdulaziz Al-Mohammadavi the new head of Iran-backed militias in Iran;