Tribal Mobilization

Tribal Mobilization
Tribal Mobilization
الحشد العشائري
Founder	Thamer Al-Tamimi
Dates active	2015-present
Country	Iraq
Size	25,000-50,000
Part of	Popular Mobilization Forces (de jure)

Tribal Mobilization (Arabic: الحشد العشائري) is a group of former Sunni insurgents and sunni tribesmen in Iraq that was formed to combat the Islamic State (IS). It is important to distinguish this group from another force sometimes referred to as Tribal Mobilization, which was formerly known as the National Mobilization and is now called the Nineveh Guard, associated with the political figure Atheel al-Nujaifi.^[1]^[2]

In 2017, Thamer Al-Tamimi, the Deputy Chief of the Sunni Tribal Mobilization, publicly expressed a growing sense of disillusionment among Sunni leaders in Iraq. In an interview with Al-Hadath TV, Al-Tamimi stated that relying on support from Arab states would not be beneficial to Iraqi Sunnis. He accused some of these states of using Iraqi Sunnis as part of their regional competition with Iran. Al-Tamimi also mentioned that the Tribal Mobilization had sought assistance from Gulf countries in their fight against IS, but according to him, these requests went unanswered.^[3]^[4]

US bombing allegations

In October 2016, Iraqi officials reported that 21 members of the Tribal Mobilization Forces were killed during a US bombing operation south of Mosul.^[5]

Nineveh Guard

The Nineveh Guard (formerly National Mobilization) is a ~4,000-strong Sunni paramilitary force led by former Nineveh governor Atheel al-Nujaifi. Formed to combat ISIS and secure Mosul, they were trained by Turkish forces at the Bashiqa camp. While part of the broader Sunni Tribal Mobilization (Hashd al-Hashd), they operated with high autonomy and were seen as a local alternative to central government or Shia militia control in Sunni areas.^[6]

Leadership and Origin: Formed by Atheel al-Nujaifi, a prominent Sunni politician and former governor of Nineveh, after ISIS captured Mosul in 2014.
Training and Support: They received significant training from the Turkish Army at the Zilan base in Bashiqa, which sparked political tensions between Turkey and Baghdad.
Composition: Primarily composed of Sunni Arab volunteers, including former Iraqi army veterans and local Mosul residents.
Role in Conflict: They participated in the Battle of Mosul to retake the city from ISIS and aimed to secure the province after liberation.
Status and Affiliation: While theoretically (de jure) part of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), the Nineveh Guard maintained a distinct, semi-autonomous identity and often operated in opposition to Tehran-backed elements within the larger PMF.

Structure

Anbar Region: Numerous, smaller units, typically consisting of 100-200 men, with larger forces like the 51st Brigade (linked to local tribal leaders and operating in Salah ad-Din) functioning on the ground.
1-54th Brigade: Based in Amiriyat Al-Fallujah and Al-Karma, under the Anbar Operations Command.
2-55th Brigade: Stationed in Husaybah, west of Anbar, under the Anbar Operations Command.
3-57th Brigade: Stationed in Haditha District, commanded by Major General Faisal Hussein Al-Jughaifi.
Nineveh Guard: Formerly known as Nineveh National Mobilization, associated with Atheel al-Nujaifi.
Tribal Mobilization (General): Known as Hashd al-Ashair, often receiving salaries via the Iraqi government, with many units receiving training and light weapons through U.S.-supported initiatives.^[7]