The latest in a series of statements designed to imply Iranian complicity with the insurgency in Iraq, Gen. Ray Odierno, the top US commander in Iraq, named three Shi’ite groups that he claimed have ties to Iran.
The groups, the Qataib Hezbollah, the Asaib Ahl al-Haq and the Promise Day Brigade, get funding, training and weapons from Iran, moreover, Odierno claims, “many of them live in Iran.”
At the same time, Gen. Odierno conceded that it is “very difficult to say if the extremist groups are directly connected to the Iranian government.” Which of course would be the only reason to try to tie them to territortial Iran in the first place.
Despite US allegations the Iranian govenment is actually on comparatively good terms with the Shi’ite government of neighboring Iraq. Beyond claims that Qataib Hezbollah attempted two failed attacks earlier this year, it is likewise unclear that any of the groups are involved in any “insurgent” activities. Rather most of the insurgency in Iraq is Sunni in nature, and opposed to the Shi’ite governments in Iraq and Iran.