Al-Hashd al-Shabi, the Forerunner of the Hard and Soft war against The United States in Iraq

General Qasim Soleimani, the helper of the Iraqi people

"Ayatollah Sistani's fatwa (religious decree) on the need to resist against ISIS was an important step in the fight against terrorism in Iraq."

These are the opinions of many Iraqi officials who have stated on various occasions after the victory over ISIS in Iraq.

One may ask, what made this fatwa ended up to the formation of the Al Hashd al Shabi despite the presence of the United States in Iraq, which has formed 130 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to counter the cultural and religious Islamic movements in the country? Not to say that the US has 14 military bases in Iraq and has access toward any non-governmental organizations in Iraq.

Considering the enormous influences the US has in Iraq, how it was even impossible for Iraqis to implement Ayatollah Sistani's fatwa and formed such a movement that gave the US serious headache?

According to Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi, Secretary General of the Iraqi Al-Nujaba Movement, the formation succeeded because of General Qasem Soleimani

Former Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi also acknowledged the role of General Soleimani in organizing the al-Hashd al-Shabi, calling Soleimani one of Iraq's most important allies in the fight against ISIS.

Iraqi officials in both the central government in Baghdad and in the Kurdish region believe that Soleimani played a key role in forming resistance groups, which are the core of the popular mobilization forces.

Now, not only ISIS has no longer occupy any territory in Iraq, but its “sleeping cells” can no longer find a place to sleep.

On the contrary, al-Hashd al-Shabi which is Soleimani’s is developing in terms of power and gaining legitimacy in Iraq as well as in the region. The movement has become not only the forerunner of the physical war (or hard war) against the invaders and occupiers, but also in the soft war that the United States ignited through 130 NGOs in Iraq