The U.S.-supported ‘Sahwa Committees (SC) in Iraq blame Iran for cooperating with Al-Qa’ida in the establishment of a new local terror group.
The SC was established last year in Baghdad and in several other cities. Numbering between 60,000 and 80,000, the SC comprises mainly Sunni armed volunteers. Since its establishment, the SC has reportedly helped lower the number of terror attacks committed by Al-Qa’ida, particularly in Baghdad.
On December 2007 one of Al-Qa’ida’s top leaders in Iraq, Abu ‘Umar Al-Baghdadi, called on his followers to kill members of the SC, who "became servants of the Cross."
Now, leaders of the SC have stated that a "neighboring country, claiming to preserve security in Iraq," has financially and logistically aided Al-Qa’ida in establishing a new terror group – Paradise Youth.
The PY’s main purpose, according to the ‘Sahwa Committees, is to eliminate the SC presence. They added that the PY is recruiting young people, aged 14-18, promising large sums of money – over $3,000 for each attack they execute.
"The information was transferred to the American side, as well as to the Iraqi security forces, for them to take the necessary measures," read an SC statement.
Despite the SC’s apparent success, the Iraqi government has refused to recognize it as an official security force, alongside the army and the police. SC leaders recently said they were worried the government would attempt to terminate their activities.