Leading the ongoing battle to free the Iraqi city of Fallujah from the clutches of Islamic State (IS) is a group of Iran-backed Shiite militias who have the support of Baghdad and are working in cooperation with the U.S.-led coalition. These militias have been executing locals Sunnis, and some 600 men are now reported missing. Max Boot writes:
This is not how the Iraqi forces should behave if they are interested in winning “hearts and minds” among members of the Sunni community. But that’s not what the militias are interested in—they want revenge for various wrongs done to Shiites by groups such as IS and they see all Sunnis, no matter how innocent, as equally guilty. Such behavior will make it impossible for the government in Baghdad to pacify the country. Sunnis will resist this kind of oppression long after IS is defeated.
This type of sectarian violence does not serve Iraq’s interests, but it is very much in the interests of Iran, which has become America’s de-facto partner in the anti-IS campaign. . . .
[L]ike Syria, Iraq may be consigned to a semi-permanent state of civil war [between Sunnis and Shiites, or among the various Shiite militias once IS is defeated]. That is terrible news for that country’s interests and our own, but it will suit Iran just fine. It will also be just fine for Sunni extremists, whether aligned with IS, Nusra Front, or some other organization. Extremists thrive on turmoil. . . .
[W]e shouldn’t make the mistake of defeating one Islamic state simply to make way for another one.
Read more on Commentary: https://www.commentarymagazine.com/foreign-policy/middle-east/iraq/iran-sows-seeds-war-iraq/