Kurzbeschreibungen zu den in dieser Anfragebeantwortung verwendeten Quellen sowie Ausschnitte mit Informationen aus diesen Quellen finden Sie im Anhang.

Berichte zu Übergriffen auf irakische Staatsbürger, die für amerikanische Einrichtungen tätig waren (in Bagdad seit Jänner 2020)

Es konnte für den angegebenen Zeitraum nur ein Fall gefunden werden, bei dem ein Iraker, der für eine amerikanischen Einrichtung tätig war, speziell in Bagdad persönlich bedroht wurde. Dies bedeutet nicht notwendigerweise, dass nicht mehr solcher Übergriffe stattgefunden haben.

Die folgenden Quellen enthalten Informationen zur Bedrohung von ehemaligen Dolmetschern, die für die US-Armee und die Koalitionstruppen tätig waren, im gesamten Irak.

BBC News, Financial Times, NPR und Washington Post veröffentlichen zwischen Juni und Dezember 2020 eine Reihe von Artikeln, in denen irakische Dolmetscher ihre Bedrohung durch schiitische Milizen im Land beschreiben. Laut einem von BBC interviewten irakischen Dolmetscher fürchte er um sein Leben und das Leben seiner Familie. Die Arbeit für die Koalitionsstreitkräfte sei nach der Ermordung des iranischen Spitzenkommandanten Qasem Soleimani und des hochrangigen irakischen Milizführers Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis gefährlicher geworden. Seitdem seien IrakerInnen, die mit westlichen Truppen arbeiten würden, als Verräter gebrandmarkt worden. Dem Befragten zufolge sei die Atmosphäre angespannt und die Dolmetscher seien auch von Angehörigen der irakischen Streitkräfte, die von der Koalition ausgebildet worden seien, wie Feinde behandelt worden. Ein US-Beamter erklärt gegenüber BBC, dass sich die Milizgruppen eher auf IrakerInnen konzentrieren würden, die für die Koalition arbeiten, als auf die Koalitionskräfte selbst. BBC berichtet, dass unbekannte Milizgruppen mehrere Warnungen herausgegeben hätten, in denen IrakerInnen, die mit Koalitionskräften zusammenarbeiten würden, aufgefordert würden, ihre Arbeit sofort aufzugeben. Es wird berichtet, dass eine Gruppe namens Ashab Al-Kahf, die die Verantwortung für viele Raketenangriffe auf Koalitionsstützpunkte und die US-Botschaft in Bagdad übernommen habe, eine Erklärung auf Telegram veröffentlicht habe, in der irakischen DolmetscherInnen, die mit der von den USA geführten Koalition zusammenarbeiten würden, Geld angeboten werde. (Auch EPIC berichtet am 5. November 2020 über diese Erklärung, Anm. ACCORD). Laut den von BBC befragten Dolmetschern sei dies eine versteckte Botschaft an die IrakerInnen, mit der Miliz zusammenzuarbeiten oder als Feind betrachtet und getötet zu werden. Diese Drohungen seien bereits in die Tat umgesetzt worden: seit der Tötung Soleimanis seien mehrere Konvois, die Ladung für die internationalen Truppen transportiert hätten, mithilfe improvisierter Sprengkörper angegriffen worden. Diese Konvois würden von irakischen Vertragspartnern organisiert, die Fahrer seien Iraker und würden nicht von internationalem Personal begleitet. Laut den von BBC befragten Dolmetschern seien ihre persönlichen Informationen vor dem Ausbruch von Covid-19 geheim gewesen. Als jedoch das Land im Lockdown gewesen sei, seien die vollständigen Namen, Berufsbezeichnungen, ID-Nummern und Fahrzeugzulassungen der Befragten und weiterer Dolmetscher auf einer Liste mit dem Logo der US-Botschaft in Bagdad mit allen Checkpoints im gesamten Irak geteilt worden, um den Dolmetschern das Reisen zu ermöglichen. Im Irak würden Checkpoints gemeinsam von verschiedenen Sicherheitseinheiten besetzt, einschließlich der PMF (Popular Mobilisation Forces), zu denen auch schiitische Milizen gehören würden. Laut den interviewten Dolmetschern bedeute dies, dass die Milizen nun ihre Informationen hätten. Aus diesem Grund würden sie sich verstecken und seien mit ihren Familien umgezogen. BBC berichtet, dass Drohungen gegen irakische Dolmetscher im Irak eine lange Geschichte habe. Seit dem Fall von Saddam Hussein seien mindestens 40 Mitarbeiter der britischen Armee von Milizgruppen ermordet worden. (BBC News, 30. Dezember 2020)

Die Financial Times interviewt drei irakische Dolmetscher für verschiedene britische und amerikanische Truppen sowie Sicherheitsunternehmen, die die gleichen Befürchtungen äußern, die in dem Artikel der BBC als Folge der Ermordung von Soleimani und der Erklärung von Ashab al-Kahf beschrieben werden. Ein Dolmetscher berichtet, dass sich Fremde an seinen Sohn gewandt hätten, um nach dem Job seines Vaters zu fragen. Dies habe dazu geführt, dass die Familie in derselben Nacht innerhalb Bagdads umgezogen sei. Alle Dolmetscher, mit denen man gesprochen habe, würden versteckt leben, da sie befürchten würden, dass die Milizen im Besitz einer Liste mit ihren persönlichen Daten seien. (FT, 1. Dezember 2020)

NPR berichtet im Juni 2020 über die die Entlassung von Übersetzern für die US-Streitkräfte in der Region Kurdistan im Irak. Die entlassenen Übersetzer hätten ihre Befürchtungen geäußert, nun von der Gruppe Islamischer Staat (IS) oder von dem Iran nahestehenden Milizen ins Visier genommen zu werden, da sie aufgrund ihrer Arbeit in US- und Koalitionsausbildungszentren für irakische Streitkräfte leicht zu identifizieren seien. Die vom Iran unterstützten Milizen, die gegen die US-Präsenz seien, würden inzwischen einen bedeutenden Teil der irakischen Sicherheitskräfte ausmachen. Laut NPR würden die Ausweise und persönlichen Daten von Dolmetschern, die mit Koalitionskräften zusammenarbeiten würden, den irakischen Verteidigungs- und Innenministerien zur Verfügung gestellt. Ein Dolmetscher aus dem Zentralirak, der von NPR interviewt worden sei, verstecke sich aus Angst, als Dolmetscher auf der Straße erkannt zu werden. (NPR, 12. Juni 2020)

Die Washington Post erklärt in einem Artikel vom November 2020, dass das US-Militär den irakischen Sicherheitskräften persönliche Informationen über die bei ihnen Beschäftigten zur Verfügung stelle, da dies von den irakischen Behörden verlangt werde. Milizen seien ein Teil des irakischen Sicherheitsapparats, sodass die Informationen in einigen Fällen für Gruppen zugänglich geworden seien, die Amerikaner und ihre lokalen Unterstützungskräfte angreifen würden. Im Juni habe die Nachrichtenagentur Sabreen, die mit dem Iran nahestehenden Milizen verbunden sei, eine Liste mit persönlichen Informationen über diejenigen Iraker veröffentlicht, denen Zugang zur US-Militärbasis in Bagdad gewährt worden sei. Die Liste habe unter anderem die Namen, Adressen und Identifikationsnummern der irakischen Fahrer und die Marken-, Modell-, Jahres- und Kennzeichen ihrer Autos enthalten und habe das Logo der Militärkoalition und des US-Verteidigungsministeriums aufgewiesen. Unabhängig davon hätten zwei irakische Übersetzer ausgesagt, sie hätten Milizsoldaten gesehen, die in der Nähe eines irakischen Militärkontrollpunkts stationiert gewesen seien und eine solche Liste geprüft hätten. Aus diesem Grund hätten die Übersetzer Angst um ihr Leben. Ein Übersetzer aus Bagdad habe sich mit zwei ehemaligen Kollegen versteckt. Einem Übersetzer aus Kirkuk sei von einem Unbekannten angetragen worden, die Stadt zu verlassen. Derselbe Übersetzer erklärt, dass es Dolmetscher gebe, die ihn anrufen und erklären würden, dass sie beim Besuch des Basars oder beim Verlassen ihrer Häuser bedroht worden seien. Einigen sei gesagt worden, dass es nicht möglich sei, US-Bürger im Irak anzugreifen, jedoch Menschen wie sie. Die Washington Post erklärt weiters, dass es die Vorgehensweise von Valiant sei (ein amerikanisches Unternehmen, das Übersetzer für das US-Militär beschäftigt, Anm. ACCORD), die entsprechende Militäreinheit zu benachrichtigen, wenn ein derzeitiger oder ehemaliger Mitarbeiter eine Drohung melde. Dies sei einige Male pro Jahr der Fall. Viele irakische Mitarbeiter, die in Unterstützung der US-Mission gearbeitet hätten, hätten ihren Job verloren und würden befürchten, dass sie nach dem Abzug der US-Truppen noch anfälliger für Racheangriffe würden. Während ihrer Beschäftigung sei es möglich gewesen, Drohungen zu melden, und Unterstützung durch das US-Militär zu erhalten. Dolmetscher hätten in einem Brief an das US-Konsulat angegeben, dass es nach ihrer Entlassung nur eine Frage der Zeit sei, bis man sie ins Visier nehme. (WP, 13. November 2020)

Die Washington Post beschreibt in einem weiteren Artikel vom Dezember 2020, dass viele der Iraker, die für das US-Militär im Irak gearbeitet hätten, Belästigung oder Morddrohungen ausgesetzt seien. Die USA halte nicht die Zahl der Opfer unter den Antragstellern für ein US-Visum nach (ein spezielles Visaprogramm, das die Einreise in die USA aufgrund der Dienste für das Land und eine daraus resultierende Lebensbedrohung ermöglicht, Anm. ACCORD). Freiwilligengruppen würden von mindestens 1.000 Linguisten aus dem Irak und Afghanistan ausgehen, die getötet worden seien, während sie auf ein Visum gewartet hätten. Die Organisation „No One Left Behind“ habe seit 2014 mehr als 300 Fälle gezielter Tötungen von Dolmetschern oder ihrer Familien registriert. (WP, 30. Dezember 2020)

Berichte zu Übergriffen auf irakische Staatsbürger, die für irakische Unternehmen gearbeitet haben, die von amerikanischen Einrichtungen Aufträge erhalten haben (in Bagdad seit Jänner 2020)

Es konnten für den angegebenen Zeitraum keine Informationen zu Übergriffen auf ehemalige Mitarbeiter von oben genannten irakischen Unternehmen gefunden werden. Die folgenden Quellen enthalten Informationen zu Angriffen auf Personen, die derzeit für die internationalen Truppen als Fahrer bei Versorgungskonvois arbeiten.

EPIC berichtet, dass am 29. Februar 2020 ein Twitter-Account, von dem angenommen wird, dass er zur Führung der Miliz Kata'ib Hisbollah (KH) gehört, eine "letzte und irreversible Warnung" an den irakischen Anti-Terror-Dienst, Politiker und irakische Unternehmen, die Verträge mit US-Streitkräften haben, herausgegeben habe, die Beziehungen zu den USA bis zum 15. März abzubrechen oder sich nicht näher bezeichneten Konsequenzen zu stellen. (EPIC, 5. März 2020)

Seit September 2020 hat EPIC eine Anzahl von Explosionen von Spreng- und Brandvorrichtungen (IEDs) registriert, die auf von Irakern durchgeführte Konvois abzielen, die logistische Unterstützung leisten oder Ausrüstung für die Streitkräfte der Internationalen Koalition im Irak transportieren.

Im September wurden Angriffe auf Konvois von Auftragnehmern registriert, darunter drei in Salah ad-Din, einer in Diwaniyah, zwei außerhalb von Bagdad, einer in Dhi-Qar und fünf in der Provinz Babylon. Die IED-Anschläge hätten zu Schäden an den Fahrzeugen sowie einem verwundeten Fahrer und einem verwundeten Mitglied der irakischen Sicherheitskräfte geführt. (EPIC, 17. September 2020, EPIC, 24. September 2020, EPIC, 1. Oktober 2020)

Am 1. Oktober wird berichtet, dass zwei Konvois in Diwaniyah und einer in Babylon durch IED-Sprengsätze angegriffen worden seien. (EPIC, 1. Oktober 2020, EPIC, 15. Oktober 2020)

Im Dezember seien weitere Konvois irakischer Auftragnehmer angegriffen worden: einer in Al-Muthanna, zwei südlich von Bagdad, drei in Diwaniyah, einer in Dhi-Qar, einer in Babylon. Ein LKW-Fahrer und ein Angehöriger der irakischen Sicherheitskräfte seien verletzt worden (EPIC, 10. Dezember 2020, EPIC, 7. Jänner 2021).

Im Jänner berichtet EPIC, dass ein Konvoi in Salah ad-Din, einer in Dhi-Qar, einer im Südirak, einer westlich von Bagdad und einer in Babylon angegriffen worden seien. Ein Wachmann sei verletzt worden und ein Lastwagen sei verbrannt (EPIC, 7. Jänner 2021, EPIC, 21. Jänner 2021, EPIC, 4. Februar 2021). Am 4. Februar sei ein weiterer Konvoi in Babylon angegriffen worden. (EPIC, 4. Februar 2021)

Quellen: (Zugriff auf alle Quellen am 15. Februar 2021)

·      BBC News: Iraqi interpreters 'stalked by death squads' for helping the British, 30. Dezember 2020
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55481651

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: February 27 – March 5, 2020, 5. März 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm244/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 10 - September 17, 2020, 17. September 2020 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)
https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ishm-september-10-september-17-2020 

·      EPIC - Enabling Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 17 - September 24, 2020, 24. September 2020 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)
https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ishm-september-17-september-24-2020

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 24 – October 1, 2020, 1. Oktober 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm274/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: October 8 – October 15, 2020, 15. Oktober 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm276/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: October 29 – November 5, 2020, 5. November 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm279/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: December 3 – December 10, 2020, 10. Dezember 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm283/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: December 24, 2020 – January 7, 2021, 7. Jänner 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm286/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: January 14 – January 21, 2021, 21. Jänner 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm288/

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: January 28 – February 4, 2021, 4. Februar 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm290/

·      FT – Financial Times: Iraqi translators live in terror as the west withdraws, 1, Dezember 2020
https://www.ft.com/content/9f3a283f-78bd-48b7-8fab-1a7b1d3ee7fc

·      NPR: Laid Off By U.S. Contractor, Iraqi Interpreters Fear ISIS Retaliation, 12. Juni 2020
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/12/873232716/laid-off-by-u-s-contractor-iraqi-interpreters-fear-isis-retaliation?t=1612344559429

·      WP – Washington Post: They served alongside U.S. soldiers. Now they fear that Iran’s allies in Iraq will strike back, 13. November 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-militias-contractors-translators/2020/11/12/2f2296e0-07d4-11eb-8719-0df159d14794_story.html

·      WP – Washington Post: Thousands of Afghans and Iraqis are under threat for helping Americans. Now they hope Biden will help them resettle in the United States, 30. Dezember 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-refugees-visas/2020/12/30/572c00fc-3e4f-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html

Anhang: Quellenbeschreibungen und Informationen aus ausgewählten Quellen

BBC News ist der Nachrichtensender der britischen öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalt British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

·      BBC News: Iraqi interpreters 'stalked by death squads' for helping the British, 30. Dezember 2020
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55481651

„’I am frightened. You can feel the threat. At any time, someone will hit the door of my house and shoot five bullets,’ Ali says. ‘One bullet for me, one bullet for my wife and three bullets for my three daughters.’ Ali (not his real name) is terrified that Iraqi militiamen will target him and his family because he worked for the British army as an interpreter.

He knew it would be dangerous work, but he says he was happy to do it out of a sense of patriotism. But when the US assassinated top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, as well as a senior Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, Ali's work suddenly became far more dangerous. He no longer works for the coalition forces, and feels abandoned to his fate by the British, as they withdraw from Iraq. I meet Ali and his colleague Ahmed (also not his real name) in the safety of a hotel in Baghdad, on the condition of anonymity. They look frightened. […]

But in January this year, everything changed. On the orders of Donald Trump, Iran's most powerful military commander, Qasem Soleimani, and his Iraqi ally, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Popular Mobilisation forces (PM), were assassinated in Baghdad, angering the country's powerful Iran-backed paramilitaries. Western troops became targets and the Iraqis they worked with were branded traitors. ‘The atmosphere became very tense. Even some of the Iraqi forces that were being trained by the coalition started to treat us like an enemy. I don't know, maybe because they were loyal to another country rather than Iraq,’ Ali says. Coalition bases now came under regular rocket attack, mainly claimed by unknown militia groups. Many experts believe these new groups are just a front for powerful well-known Shia militia groups such as Kataib Hezbollah, in order to operate with more freedom. ‘We have evidence that these groups are just new brands for the same core anti-western Iran-backed militia. They know that hunting a ghost is not possible so they use this strategy to terrorise both Iraqis and coalition troops, while the main militia can get away with only saying that they don't know who these groups are,’ a US official tells me. He says that these shadowy groups have now focused on Iraqis who work for the coalition, rather than the coalition forces itself.

'Ghost militias'

Unknown militia groups have issued several warnings, telling Iraqis who are working with coalition forces to leave their jobs immediately. One of them calls itself Ashab Al Kahf or Companions of the Cave. It has claimed responsibility for many rocket attacks on coalition bases and the US embassy in Baghdad. The group posted a statement on Telegram offering money to Iraqi interpreters who work with the US-led coalition. ‘Today we offer forgiveness to those who did wrong to themselves and their country by serving the Americans and British and other enemies of Iraq... We will provide you a monthly salary and safety if you get in touch with us,’ the statement reads. The ‘salaries’ they offered start from $3,000 for translators and up to $50,000 for those who are helping the US and British intelligence services. ‘There was a hidden message,’ says Ahmed. ‘If you don't co-operate with us, we'll consider you an enemy. The difference between us and the coalition is they hit them with Katyusha rockets, but they will kill us with a bullet.’

Attacks

These words have already been translated into action - since Soleimani's assassination, several logistical convoys carrying coalition cargos in Iraq have been attacked by improvised explosive devices. The ‘ghost militias’ post videos on social media after the attacks, joyously claiming responsibility for targeting a ‘US army convoy’. In fact these convoys are run by contractors and their drivers are Iraqi - there are no US or coalition personnel accompanying them. We could see that they have started to execute their threats,’ Ahmed tells me. Despite this, the interpreters continued to work with coalition forces. It was a dangerous job but they felt they had some level of protection. They had been assured that their personal data would never leave the coalition. ‘No-one knows where I work or what I do, not my kids or my neighbours, only my wife - and even she doesn't know what I do exactly. And we were promised that our information would remain secret,’ Ali says.

Unemployed, exposed and unsafe

But another storm was yet to come: Covid-19. Once the coronavirus arrived in Iraq, the country went into full lockdown. Anyone who needed to travel had to be on a special permission list issued by the Iraqi government, which was sent to all checkpoints across Iraq. A list - which has been seen by the BBC - was shared by Iraqi security forces. It contained the full names, job titles, ID numbers and car registrations of all eight interpreters in Ali and Ahmed's group. The eight were informed by email that this list had been sent to Iraqi checkpoints to ‘facilitate their movement’. It was terrifying news. In Iraq, checkpoints are jointly manned by different security units, including the PMs, which includes powerful anti-US Shia armed groups. ‘It meant that the militia has our information,’ Ahmed says. […]

The situation forced them to hide and they moved their families to different addresses - but this can only be a temporary solution. Ali fears that, in time, the militia will catch up with them. […]

Liaison between the coalition forces and the Iraqi government is conducted through the US embassy in Baghdad. The document has the header of the US embassy in Baghdad. Ahmed explains that as it is a US-led coalition, any administrative correspondence with Iraqi authorities comes from the US embassy. We contacted the US embassy, asking them about this document. ‘As a general matter, we do not comment on our private diplomatic correspondence with the Government of Iraq. That said, coordinating logistics movements with the Government of Iraq is a standard procedure to seek to ensure the safety and security of the US Mission and US Mission personnel in Iraq,’ an embassy spokesperson replied. Threats against Iraqi interpreters have a long history. Since the fall of Saddam Hussein, at least 40 who worked with the British army have been murdered by militia groups.“ (BBC News, 30. Dezember 2020)

EPIC (Enabling Peace in Iraq Center) ist eine von Veteranen des Golfkrieges gegründete US-amerikanische NGO, die humanitäre Projekte im Irak unterstützt und unter anderem den wöchentlichen Iraq Security and Humanitarian Monitor veröffentlicht.

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: February 27 – March 5, 2020, 5. März 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm244/

„On February 29, a Twitter account believed to belong to Kata’ib Hezbollah’s leadership (KH), issued a 'final and irreversible warning’ to the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service, politicians, and Iraqi companies who have contracts with U.S. forces to sever relations with the U.S. by March 15 or face unspecified consequences.“ (EPIC, 5. März 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 10 - September 17, 2020, 17. September 2020 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)
https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ishm-september-10-september-17-2020 

„On September 12, an IED struck a convoy of vehicles providing logistical support to International Coalition forces in Iraq while it was passing through the village of al-Rayyesh, in Salah ad-Din province. The explosion damaged one of the convoy’s vehicles and wounded one driver. On September 14, security sources reported two explosions targeting similar convoys – one occurring on a highway in Diwaniyah and another on a highway in Babylon province. Neither explosion caused casualties or damage to the convoy. On September 15, another IED targeting a contractor’s convoy exploded in the Neel region of Babylon province. The bombing resulted in no casualties and caused minor damage to a vehicle.“ (EPIC, 17. September 2020)

·      EPIC - Enabling Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 17 - September 24, 2020, 24. September 2020 (verfügbar auf ecoi.net)
https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/ishm-september-17-september-24-2020

„On September 17, a bomb targeted the American Institute for English Learning in Najaf. The police in Najaf said they were investigating the attack, which occurred outside the building and caused only material damage.

On September 19, Iraq’s Security Media Cell said that an IED targeted an Iraqi-operated convoy transporting equipment for the International Coalition in al-Ishaqi, near Balad in Salah ad-Din province. The explosion injured one member of the Iraqi Security Forces. On September 17, an unknown armed group targeted an Iraqi-operated convoy transporting Coalition equipment on the highway in Babylon in the vicinity of al-Musayyab, causing no casualties. On September 23, a new Shia militia group, Saraya Qasim al-Jabareen claimed two IED attacks against Coalition Contractors on the Hilla highway in Babylon province and near Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad. Shia militia group Ashab al-Kahf claimed a third IED attack targeting a convoy belonging to the Coalition near al-Awja, Salah ad-Din province.“ (EPIC, 24. September 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: September 24 – October 1, 2020, 1. Oktober 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm274/

„On September 27, an IED targeting an Iraqi-operated contractor convoy transporting equipment for the International Coalition exploded in the al-Batha district, Dhi-Qar province. The explosion caused no casualties and only minor damage to one of the convoy’s vehicles. The same day, another IED targeting a similar convoy exploded on the main highway near Hilla in Babylon province, causing no casualties and minor damage to a vehicle. On September 29, an IED exploded on the Hilla International Road targeting a contractor convoy, causing no casualties and limited damage to a convoy vehicle. On October 1, an IED exploded against another Coalition contractor convoy on the highway in Diwaniyah province, causing no casualties. The same day, unknown gunmen fired a ‘guided rocket’ at a similar convoy travelling near the subdistrict of Shomali, Babylon province. The rocket hit a convoy vehicle without exploding, causing no casualties and minor damage to the vehicle.“ (EPIC, 1. Oktober 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: October 8 – October 15, 2020, 15. Oktober 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm276/

„On October 10, an IED struck a convoy of vehicles providing logistical support to the International Coalition in Iraq on the highway between Samawa and Diwaniyah. The explosion resulted in no casualties and caused minor damage to one of the convoy’s vehicles.“ (EPIC, 15. Oktober 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: October 29 – November 5, 2020, 5. November 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm279/

„On October 31, al-Monitor reported that Ashab al-Kahf (AK), a group describing themselves as ‘the intelligence arm of the resistance,” offered financial incentive ranging from $20k to $50k to Iraqi citizens for information on intelligence officers, ‘economists,’ and ‘investors’ from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and United States in a statement on the Ashab al-Kahf Telegram channel. AK said they would give Iraqi translators working for the Coalition ‘legal permission” to continue working, ‘security,’ and ‘monthly salary,’ in exchange for information. AK also noted they would provide rewards for any information on intelligence officers from Palestine’s Fatah. AK is a small militant faction that previously claimed responsibility for some IED attacks against Iraqi contractors operating logistical convoys for the International Coalition.“ (EPIC, 5. November 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: December 3 – December 10, 2020, 10. Dezember 2020
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm283/

„On December 10, two IEDs exploded targeting trucks belonging to contractors transporting supplies for the International Coalition forces in Iraq. The attack took place on the main highway passing through al-Muthanna province in southern Iraq and damaged one truck without causing casualties. Security sources said this was the second attack within 24 hours. Late on December 9, another IED exploded targeting a similar logistical convoy near Mahmoudiyah, south of Baghdad without causing injuries. Attack data compiled by EPIC indicate the last attack on Coalition logistical convoys happened two months ago on October 10. An obscure group called Qasim al-Jabbarin claimed responsibility for both attacks.“ (EPIC, 10. Dezember 2020)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: December 24, 2020 – January 7, 2021, 7. Jänner 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm286/

„On December 25, an improvised explosive device (IED) targeted trucks belonging to local contractors transporting supplies for the U.S.-led International Coalition. The bombing occurred along the main highway through Diwaniyah province and injured a truck driver. A second bombing targeted another convoy later on the same day along the highway in Dhi-Qar province without reports of casualties. At least five more similar bombing occurred since then. On December 27, an IED targeted a convoy transporting supplies for the Coalition in Babylon province without causing casualties. This was followed by an IED attack in Diwaniyah on December 28, and another in the same province on December 29 that injured a member of Iraq’s Security Forces (ISF). The sixth IED attack targeted a convoy in the Yusufiyah area south of Baghdad on December 31. On January 4, another IED targeted a similar convoy near Samarra in Salah ad-Din province. The attack damaged several trucks but caused no casualties.“ (EPIC, 7. Jänner 2021)

EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: January 14 – January 21, 2021, 21. Jänner 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm288/

„On January 18, a security source reported that two successive IED explosions targeted trucks transporting supplies for the International Coalition forces along a main highway in Dhi-Qar province. The attack burned one of the trucks but did not cause casualties. On January 21, another IED explosion damaged a vehicle that was carrying logistical support supplies for the International Coalition on a highway near Samawa in southern Iraq. The explosion did not cause casualties. Hours later, another IED detonated near a similar convoy on the highway near Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad. The attack injured one security guard traveling with the convoy.“ (EPIC, 21. Jänner 2021)

·      EPIC - Education for Peace in Iraq Center: ISHM: January 28 – February 4, 2021, 4. Februar 2021
https://enablingpeace.org/ishm290/

“On January 31, an IED targeted a convoy transporting supplies for the International Coalition on al-Hawali road in Babylon province, damaging one of the convoy’s vehicles. A second IED exploded on another Coalition supply convoy in the al-Luhais area of Dhi-Qar province, without reports of damages or casualties. On February 4, an IED struck a third supply convoy for the Coalition on the Babylon highway, with no casualties or damage.” (EPIC, 4. Februar 2021)

Financial Times (FT) ist eine in London erscheinende Wirtschaftszeitung.

·      FT – Financial Times: Iraqi translators live in terror as the west withdraws, 1. Dezember 2020
https://www.ft.com/content/9f3a283f-78bd-48b7-8fab-1a7b1d3ee7fc

„The interpreters who worked for UK and US forces fear they are an easy target for Iran-backed militias. […]

An Iraqi interpreter for a rotating cast of British and American troops and security companies, his work in deadly conflicts has earned him commemorative pins, recommendation letters and distinctly English vowels. A new threat makes the 44-year-old weep with fear for his family — and ask that even the Anglicised version of his name be disguised. Jim and other Iraqi interpreters live in terror of the Iran-backed Shia militias who are baying to avenge Qassem Soleimani, the powerful Iranian general, and his Iraqi lieutenant Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were both assassinated in Baghdad in January. Cycles of violence have made life for Iraqis abhorrently hazardous since the US-led invasion of 2003. Soleimani’s assassination brought fresh chaos for the translators with Ashab al-Kahf, a relatively new Shia militia formation, making a veiled threat against them last month. The statement, circulated on clandestine social media channels, encouraged former interpreters to absolve past offences by collaborating with paramilitaries. Between the lines, the message was: ‘If you don’t co-operate with us, it means you are our enemy and we will kill you’, says Jim. Until March, Jim worked with a British regiment training Iraqi soldiers, along with two other translators who spoke to me, Hassan and Wa’el (names also changed). Their work has exposed them to information valuable to anti-western forces. A year ago, strangers approached Hassan’s son and asked questions about his dad’s job — Hassan fled across Baghdad with his family that night. Wa’el, who once turned down a US visa out of optimism for Iraq’s future, has rigged his home with CCTV. […]

‘I realised the Americans, when they came to Iraq, they made Iran stronger,’ says Wa’el. But as the US again draws down, ‘we’ll still be here. We’ll be an easy target.’ Wa’el and his fellow translators fear the militias have their personal details. The Washington Post reports that a list identifying Iraqis who contracted with American forces has been shared with Hashd forces, which includes Shia militants. The interpreters are now in hiding. ‘Like you drink a glass of water, they could kill us just as easily,’ says Hassan.“ (FT, 1. Dezember 2020)

NPR (ehemals National Public Radio) ist ein Rundfunk-Syndikat in den USA.

·      NPR: Laid Off By U.S. Contractor, Iraqi Interpreters Fear ISIS Retaliation, 12. Juni 2020
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/12/873232716/laid-off-by-u-s-contractor-iraqi-interpreters-fear-isis-retaliation?t=1612344559429

„A U.S. military contractor in Iraq has abruptly laid off the majority of the U.S.-led coalition's Iraqi interpreters. The move has left many fearing retaliation from ISIS and Iran-backed militias hostile to U.S. forces, and forced some into hiding. […]

A group of laid-off linguists who had been working in the Kurdistan region of Iraq wrote to the Combined Joint Task Force to express fears that the move has left many of them in danger and unable to safely seek other employment. ‘Most of these linguists are easily identified ... especially those who have been working in coalition forces fighting against ISIS on frontlines,’ reads the email, seen by NPR. ‘We ... will be easily hunted down and there will be a massive threat on our lives and our families as well.’ […]

Many of the interpreters worked with U.S. and coalition personnel at training centers for Iraqi Kurdish and Arab forces, but also went on missions with Iraqi forces and coalition advisors. Iran-backed militias opposed to the U.S. presence in Iraq now form a significant part of Iraqi security forces. Some of these militias have publicly warned Iraqis working with coalition forces that they could be targeted. ‘They say, 'You've become a kafir [unbeliever],'’ says one interpreter. He says he and other Iraqi linguists have warned coalition personnel of potential threats against coalition forces by some of the same Iraqi personnel they have trained. […]

The IDs and personal details of interpreters working with coalition forces are provided to the Iraqi defense and interior ministries. ‘They have a copy of my national ID, my passport number, everything,’ says an interpreter in central Iraq — laid off, he says, after eight years of almost continuous contracts with the U.S. military. […]

Some of the Iraqi interpreters laid off last month have gone into hiding. All are trying to keep a low profile. ‘If I want to go shopping, I go out at night,’ says a Baghdad interpreter. ‘If I need to go out, I wear sunglasses and a hat so that no one will see me in the street and say, 'Hey, you're an interpreter with the U.S. Army.'’ He says most of those laid off have no income now, and no way to find other jobs to support their families. ‘Maybe I can start a shop, but there will be people who will recognize me. If I want to look for a job with another company, I cannot put on my CV, 'I was an interpreter with the U.S. Army,'’ he says. ‘That means I am asking someone to kill me.’“ (NPR, 12. Juni 2020)

Washington Post (WP) ist eine US-amerikanische Tageszeitung.

·      WP – Washington Post: They served alongside U.S. soldiers. Now they fear that Iran’s allies in Iraq will strike back, 13. November 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-militias-contractors-translators/2020/11/12/2f2296e0-07d4-11eb-8719-0df159d14794_story.html

“Iraqis who have worked closely with the U.S. military in their country have grown increasingly alarmed that they could be targeted for attack, fearing their personal identifying information has been obtained by Iranian-backed militias. At a time when militia attacks on supply convoys for the U.S.-led coalition and against other U.S. interests have been on the rise, the sharing of this information — including names, addresses and license plate numbers — could present a heightened threat to hundreds of Iraqis who have long worked with American forces, in particular as translators. The U.S. military provides this personal information to the Iraqi security forces, as required by Iraqi authorities, to secure permission for the translators to move around Iraq, according to documents and Iraqi military officials. But Iranian-backed militias have so permeated parts of Iraq’s security apparatus that the information has, in some cases, become accessible to groups that have taken up arms against the Americans and their local support staff, Iraqi officials say. ‘It’s not a surprise that militias have these documents,’ said an official in Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi’s office. He added, ‘They believe it’s going to be a long battle, so they will gather as much leverage over U.S. interests as possible.’ In June, a list purporting to contain personal information about Iraqis admitted to the Union III military base in Baghdad, the main headquarters of the U.S.-led military coalition, was published by the Sabreen news agency, which is affiliated with Iranian-backed militias. The list included the names, addresses and identification numbers of Iraqi drivers and the make, model, year and license plate numbers of their cars, among other specifics, and the document bore logos of the U.S.-led military coalition and the U.S. Defense Department. The Washington Post could not independently verify the authenticity of the list.

Separately, two Iraqi translators said they witnessed militiamen who were stationed near an Iraqi military checkpoint check a list containing personal information that had been acquired from a military coordination center run by the Iraqi security forces. ‘When we realized where the information had come from, we were shocked. The list contains everything. Phone numbers, ID numbers, even our real names,’ said one translator from Baghdad. The Post reviewed a copy of the list and confirmed this description. ‘It’d be an easy mission to hunt us down,’ the translator said. ‘They have all the information now. What if this list now goes online?’ This man, like seven other translators interviewed for this story, spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal. […]

But three documents obtained by The Post show that such information provided by the U.S.-led coalition has been circulated by various elements of the Iraqi security forces over the past year. The documents, all issued by the national operations center under Iraq’s prime minister, say the information was obtained from the U.S.-led coalition and then shared with Iraqi security forces, including at three military camps in Baghdad; the special division for the Green Zone in central Baghdad; and the military intelligence directorate. In one case, the document includes personal information for 143 of the employees. […]

The threat facing the translators has grown more intense in recent months. Many have been laid off as the United States prepares to withdraw its forces from the country, leaving the former contract workers unemployed and potentially unprotected. The translator from Baghdad, now out of work, has been renting temporary accommodations with two former colleagues to hide out. But money is running out. ‘We are literally eating our savings buying food here,’ he said. ‘We’ll be empty-handed by the end of the year.’ […]

‘We have interpreters right now who call me to say they have been threatened when they visit the bazaar or even just when they leave their homes,’ said an Iraqi translator who coordinates a network of former support staff. ‘Some people have been told: ‘We can’t touch U.S. citizens here, but we can touch you.’  This translator, who lives in the northern city of Kirkuk, recalled a recent evening when he was leaving a busy cafe. A man he didn’t recognize approached from behind and tapped his shoulder firmly. ‘I turned around and he looked at me directly. He told me I had to leave this city,’ recounted the translator. […]

When contacted, Valiant did not provide further formal comment. But a person familiar with the issue said Valiant’s policy is to notify the appropriate military unit if a current or former employee reports a threat, which the person said has occurred ‘a few times a year,’ The person added: ‘This is a priority. The military takes it from there.’ […]

Although Iranian-backed militias participated in the U.S.-supported campaign to oust the Islamic State from its self-proclaimed caliphate, these armed groups have recently been escalating their attacks on American interests in Iraq, especially after the U.S. killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January. Militias in Iraq have described the translators as traitors. Iraqis driving equipment and logistics convoys on behalf of the U.S.-led coalition have been targeted. There have been at least 30 rocket or improvised explosive attacks on the convoys since the summer, according to figures compiled by Joel Wing, an Iraq expert and author of the Musings on Iraq blog, which chronicles security and political developments. At least two people have been killed and another eight have been wounded. Marotto, the coalition spokesman, referred questions about attacks on convoy drivers to the Iraqi military, because the drivers are employed by companies contracted by Iraq’s security forces. […]

Between March and August, hundreds of Iraqi personnel working in support of the U.S. mission received emails saying their contracts had ended because of a loss of funding, stoking fears that they would be even more vulnerable to revenge attacks once the Americans depart. […]

While employed, the translators could report threats they received, and for the most part, they say, their complaints were taken seriously by the U.S. military. Some men were offered a safe place to stay on a military base. Others said their superiors made it clear that they had their backs. ‘I knew the risks when I signed on, but I also knew that the United States had told us that no matter the threat, they would stand by us,’ said another translator from Kirkuk. During four years of service, he said, he had worked with the U.S. Navy SEALs and the Montana Army National Guard and had most recently been helping train Iraqi forces at two centers in northern Iraq. When he received his termination notice, he got goose bumps. ‘I knew then that it isn’t a matter of asking whether something will happen to us. It’s a matter of asking when,” he said. […]

In late October, a little-known militia named Ashab al-Kahf addressed the translators directly in a statement, suggesting that the group would be willing to ‘forgive’ and even provide a salary to those who identified themselves as working on a U.S. military installation. ‘Today we think it is beautiful to offer forgiveness to those who have insulted themselves, their religion and their country, who have rendered services to the American, the English, and the rest of the enemies of Iraq,’ the statement said. A former translator in Baghdad said he saw the offer as a ‘trap,’ adding, ‘Just like I predicted, the worst is yet to come.’ […]

In the northern city of Irbil, a group of translators submitted a letter late last month to the U.S. Consulate there that they said was on behalf of about 400 people who had been hired by Valiant. ‘We are sure that you are well aware of the situation and the difficulties we face every day. For that, we are asking you kindly to reactivate [the visa] program that used to be provided for Linguists . . . just a few years ago,’ the letter read. Hostile militias, it said, are ‘capable and willing’ to hunt down translators who have supported the departing U.S. forces. ‘The situation for us is a matter of When rather than If.’” (WP, 13. November 2020)

·      WP – Washington Post: Thousands of Afghans and Iraqis are under threat for helping Americans. Now they hope Biden will help them resettle in the United States, 30. Dezember 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/biden-refugees-visas/2020/12/30/572c00fc-3e4f-11eb-9453-fc36ba051781_story.html

„The number for Iraqis is estimated at about 100,000. Many claim harassment or death threats, and the danger may increase as Trump plans to withdraw additional U.S. forces from war zones where Americans have been deployed for nearly 20 years. […]

The U.S. government does not track casualties among applicants, but volunteer groups working to help applicants estimate that at least 1,000 linguists have been killed while waiting for visas to leave Afghanistan and Iraq. No One Left Behind has catalogued more than 300 cases of targeted killings of interpreters or their families since 2014. Many of the victims were awaiting visas.“ (WP, 30. Dezember 2020)