Iran-backed militias in Iraq reportedly smuggling weapons to arm Russian invaders

Iranian-backed militias in Iraq are smuggling weapons to arm Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, The Guardian reports.

RPGs, anti-tank missiles and Brazilian-designed rocket launcher systems have made their way from Iraq to Ukraine, according to the report, which cites members of the Iranian-backed militias as well as regional intelligence services familiar with the matter.

An Iranian-made Bavar 373 missile system was also donated to Moscow by Iranian authorities, a source who helped organize the transfer is quoted as saying.

RPGs and anti-tank missiles belonging to the Hashd al-Shaabi Shia militia group were transported on March 26 from Iraq to Iran, where they were collected by Russian authorities, who then shipped them to Russia by sea, a commander of the militia branch that controls the crossing tells the British daily.

Hashd al-Shaabi also dismantled Brazilian-designed Astros II rocket launcher systems on April 1 for shipment to Russian forces.

“We don’t care where the heavy weapons go [because we don’t need them at the moment],” one Hashd al-Shaabi source tells the Guardian. “Whatever is anti-US makes us happy.”