Ya Ali Popular Formations

Ya Ali Popular Formation
Arabic: تشكيلات يا علي الشعبية
Dates active2025 – present
CountryIraq Iraq
IdeologyAnti-Syrian government[1]
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces (alleged)[2]

Ya Ali Popular Formations (Arabic: تشكيلات يا علي الشعبية) is a Shia militia group in Iraq. The group has been reported to engage in attacks against Syrians residing in Iraq, particularly those suspected of supporting Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), a Sunni Islamist militant and political organization in Syria.

History

Flag of the Ya Ali Popular Formations

A video surfaced showing the group attacking Syrian workers in Iraq. The footage depicted three masked militia members beating and threatening Syrians, accusing them of supporting HTS.[3][4] One of the militia members was seen carrying a pistol.[4]

The group has stated it will take action on perpetrators of violence against Syrian Alawites, citing government inaction as justification.[5] The group also said that it will "pursue all Syrians who support Jolani and expel them from the country."[1]

The group claimed that it "followed" the activities of Iraqi Syrians on social media who "praised" the rule of Syria's president Ahmed Al-Shara and the Syrian security forces operations against Assad loyalists.[4]

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani condemned the group's attack, and called it a “shameful acts of violence against a number of Syrian brothers working in Iraq.”[6] He has ordered the formation of a security team to track down people responsible for “committing disgraceful acts of violence” against them."[3] Iraqi security forces have also arrested at least 13 people for "promoting terrorist groups" and "supporting" mass killings of Syrian Alawities.[7]

Accounts on social media have claimed that the group is affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces.[2]

In a video clip featuring the image of the former leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah group Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah,[8] Abbas Shield Martyrdom Forces, Ya Ali Popular Formations and the Kataib Sarkhat al-Quds have threatened to take action in Syria and against the United States.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Durghman, Nader (12 March 2025). "Iraq investigates attacks on Syrian workers". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Iran Update, March 12, 2025". Institute for the Study of War. 12 March 2025.
  3. 1 2 Mohammed, Ahmed (12 March 2025). "Iraqi PM Orders Probe Into Violence Against Syrian Workers, Vows Accountability". Channel 8. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Mahmoud, Sinan (12 March 2025). "Militia targets Syrians in Iraq accused of supporting HTS crackdown". The National. Retrieved 22 March 2025.
  5. ↑ Menmy, Taib (11 March 2025). "Fallout from mass killings in Syria's coastal areas seeps into Iraq". The New Arab.
  6. ↑ "Iraq PM sets up security team to tackle Shia militia targeting Syrians who support new gov't". Middle East Monitor. 14 March 2025.
  7. ↑ "Iraq's PM orders crackdown following attack on Syrians". Shafaq News. 11 March 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  8. ↑ "Iraq's Iran-backed militias on edge as US hits Houthis in Yemen". The Arab Weekly. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
  9. ↑ "New Iraqi Armed Factions Threaten Attacks Upon US And Syria". Musings on Iraq. 19 March 2025. Retrieved 7 April 2025.
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