BASRA: OMS LEADER FEARS MILITARY KILLING WILL HURT EFFORTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BASRAH 000040

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/6/2019
TAGS: PGOV SOCI PINR PREL PTER IZ IR
SUBJECT: BASRA: OMS LEADER FEARS MILITARY KILLING WILL HURT EFFORTS
TO MODERATE MILITANTS

CLASSIFIED BY: John Naland, Leader, PRT Basra, Dept of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(d)

1. (C) Summary. Senior OMS (Office of the Martyr al-Sadr)
leader Sheikh Mohammed al-Furaji expressed concerns about the
June 21 killing of Ahmed Rahman Jasim, a member of Jaysh
al-Mahdi, who he claims had no ties to Iranian-backed militant
groups. Though the military operation that resulted in the
killing was approved and conducted by Iraqi forces, Jasim's
family and friends blame the U.S. for his death. The sheikh
fears the killing will undermine his efforts to moderate
militants, and will bring into question his cooperation with the
U.S. End summary.


2. (C) PRT Basra contacted Sheikh Mohammed al-Furaji, a senior
leader of political wing of the OMS, for his reaction to news
reports the shooting of Ahmed Rahman Jasim on June 21. Sheikh
al-Furaji, who had just returned from the funeral, repeated the
following assertions made by Jasim's family: The killing took
place without any warrant being issued. It occurred in a
residence where Jasim was staying (possibly a second family
home),and was brutal (Jasim was shot over 15 times and the body
was thrown in the street). Because the U.S. military
participated in the operation, Jasim's brother, who has video
footage of the killing, blames the U.S. -- not the Iraqi special
forces -- for Jasim's death.


3. (C) A U.S. Military officer at the PRT confirmed that Jasim
was killed in an operation that was approved by Basra Chief of
Police General Adl. Basra Operational Command was also
informed. Our U.S. military contact said that a warrant had
been issued for Jasim's arrest, and that the Iraqi team sent to
arrest him came under fire and returned it, killing Jasim. U.S.
Navy personnel who work as advisors to the police unit were
present during the operation.


4. (C) Sheikh al-Furaji said that Jasim had been a member of
Jaysh al-Mahdi, but not of any of its Iranian-backed splinter
groups, such as Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH),which are comprised of
former JAM members recruited and trained as pro-Iranian
militants. Al-Furaji expressed frustration with the killing,
stating that it undermined his efforts to moderate militants.
The killing of Jasim in his home sent a signal, especially to
Iranian-backed militants, that even if they renounced their
militancy, they could be targeted, Furaji said. The sheikh
added that the involvement of U.S. troops in the killing put him
in a bad situation, raising questions among his supporters about
his cooperation with the U.S.


5. (C) Bionote: According to our bilingual/bilcultural
interpreter, Sheikh Mohammed al-Furaji is an anti-Iranian
nationalist, who has some credibility among pro-Iranian groups
because of his extended exile in Iran prior to 2003. He
oversees the political wing of OMS in five provinces, including
Basra, and is reputed to have great influence within Jaysh
al-Mahdi. Al-Furaji has ambitions to serve in the national
parliament.

NALAND