Liwa Fatemiyoun is an Afghan Shia militia formed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is integrated into Iran’s “Axis of Resistance.” The late supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, described this axis as a defensive buffer against Western threats. It includes Hazara fighters from Afghan refugee communities in Iran. It emerged during the Syrian civil war to support the Al-Assad regime. The Fatemiyoun Brigade, made up of approximately 5,000-10,000 fighters, is a key instrument in Iran’s proxy war strategy, as it enables Iran to showcase its military influence without deploying its own conventional forces.

This brigade is trained for proxy warfare, including urban combat, sniper operations, etc. It has light and medium infantry weapons, rocket-propelled grenades, mortars, and anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs). Taylor & Francis Online notes that these militias can respond flexibly to shifting battlefronts.

Organizational Structure

The Fatemiyoun Brigade operates under the oversight of the IRGC Quds Force. This brigade has a centralized command structure. A senior Afghan Hazara officer is appointed as a field commander by the IRGC. He is responsible for combat operations in Syria. For training and coordination among various militias, there is a deputy commander. To adhere to Shia ideology, there is an ideological officer who ensures this.

Liwa Fatemiyoun has a brigade commander who commands the overall brigade. Under his supervision, some battalion commanders lead battalions of 400-800 fighters. These battalions are further divided into units of 80-50 fighters led by company commanders. They play a major role in frontline tactical operations. After the commanders, there are platoon and squad leaders who train 30-50 and 6-12 fighters, respectively. The Fatemiyoun Brigade also has some specialized units, such as reconnaissance and intelligence units, shock units, and anti-armour units. They are responsible for scouting, counter-insurgency operations, and neutralizing the enemy’s vehicles, respectively.

Operational Role in Syria

Liwa Fatemiyoun was deployed in multiple Syrian........

© Paradigm Shift