| Hamas of Iraq | |
|---|---|
| حماس العراق | |
 Logo of Hamas of Iraq | |
| Spokesperson | Ahmed Saeed Al-Hamed |
| Foundation | 2007 |
| Dates of operation | 18 March 2007 – 18 December 2011; still existed until 9 December 2017 |
| Dissolved | 2017 |
| Split from | 1920 Revolution Brigades |
| Active regions | Central Iraq |
| Ideology | Iraqi nationalism Sunni Islamism |
| Part of | Political Council for the Iraqi Resistance |
| Allies |  Islamic Army in Iraq
 Jihad and Reform Front |
| Opponents |  Iraqi Armed Forces United States Al-Qaeda in Iraq Islamic State of IraqIslamic State |
| Battles and wars | Iraq WarWar in Iraq (2013-2017) |
| Designated as a terrorist group by | Iraq[1] |
Preceded by 1920 Revolution Brigades | |
Hamas of Iraq (Arabic:حماس العراق,romanized: Ḥamās al-'Irāq) was aSunni militia group based inIraq, which split from the1920 Revolution Brigades on 18 March 2007.[2] The group has released videos of its attack on US troops.[3] The1920 Revolution Brigades insists that Hamas in Iraq was involved in assisting US troops in theirDiyala operations againstAl-Qaeda in Iraq.[4][5] On 11 October 2007, the militia group joined a political council that embraced armed insurgency against American forces.[6]
Contrary to popular belief, the group, despite its name, is not related to the Palestinian militant group calledHamas. In an interview between Hamas of Iraq and As-Sabeel, the group explained that the name was chosen due to inspiration of the "Jihad in Palestine", but they also explained that there is no formal coordination or any organizational relationships between the two.[7]
Hamas in Iraq released a political program in April 2007 with some of the following provisions:[8]
In July 2007,The Guardian reported that the group participated with other insurgent groups in an alliance called thePolitical Council for the Iraqi Resistance, which includes a range of Islamist and nationalist-leaning groups which was formed to negotiate with the Americans in anticipation of an early US withdrawal. Main planks of the joint political program included "a commitment to free Iraq from foreign troops, rejection of cooperation with parties involved in political institutions set up under the occupation and a declaration that decisions and agreements made by the US occupation and Iraqi government are null and void."[9]
The1920 Revolution Brigades insists that Hamas in Iraq was involved in assisting US troops in their recentDiyala operations againstAl-Qaeda in Iraq in August 2007.[4][5] The insistences occurred whenThe Washington Post reported in a telephone interview with Lt. Col. Joseph Davidson, executive officer of the 2nd Infantry Division, U.S. forces were now "partnering with Sunni insurgents from the 1920 Revolution Brigades, which includes former members of ousted president Saddam Hussein's disbanded army."[10] The 1920 Revolution Brigades replied that: "We say to ... the occupation and to your followers and agents that you made a very big lie" in linking us with the Diyala anti-Al-Qaeda campaign.[11] The group maintains that the US military spokesman should have referred to "Iraqi Hamas", which consisted of Brigades before the operations.[4][5]
As for Hamas of Iraq, they denied allegations of cooperating with America to fight Al-Qaeda, as said in an interview. They also claimed that "the occupying forces were unable to enter areas and villages in Diyala until Al-Qaeda paved the way for them by killing Sunni civilians and destroying their homes, mosques, and hospitals."[12] Allegedly, they did fight Al-Qaeda in Diyala, but not with America.[13]
For Hamas of Iraq, Al-Qaeda is not a resistance movement, since it has its own agenda that "extends beyond Iraq, which became clear whenAbu Musab Al-Zarqawi pledged allegiance toOsama bin Laden."[13]
In a statement from the commander of Hamas of Iraq in the Diyala Governorate, he said that the resistance factions have tried to talk with Al-Qaeda in order to stop the criminal acts of Al-Qaeda so that harm against civilians may be stopped. However, the efforts failed and ended in "treachery and lack of commitment from Al-Qaeda." Apparently, the leader ofAnsar al-Islam should have been the mediator for dialogue with Al-Qaeda from the very beginning, but Al-Qaeda refused.[14]
The group announced that these brigades of the military of the will be responsible for the following regions:
First Website of Hamas of Iraq (In Arabic)
