Training and Armed Patrols of the Afghan Fatemiyoun Militia in Southeast Iran

Listen to the article. The audio text is generated by an automated system.

The "Fatemiyoun" militia, affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and composed of Afghan fighters, has spread over the past few weeks in wide areas of Sistan and Baluchestan province in southeastern Iran, adjacent to the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Militia members appeared in video clips during military training and armed patrols, while local reports spoke of hundreds of them stationed in bases and residential areas in the province.

The Iranian human rights network "Halosh" published several video clips, the latest of which showed armed members of "Fatemiyoun" in military uniforms moving and positioning themselves in the heights of Rodmahi near the city of Zahedan, while another video showed militia members during weapons training inside a girls' school in the Ghasht area of Saravan city.

The "Halosh" network also published a video showing dozens of motorcycles being transported by vehicles to the Rodmahi base where "Fatemiyoun" members are stationed.

On September 11, four members of the "Fatimiyoun" militia were killed while on patrol in the Rodmahi area after being shot at by gunmen, before their vehicle was set on fire, according to the "Hal and Wash" human rights network.

The network states that hundreds of "Fatimiyoun" members have spread across several border areas in Sistan and Baluchestan province, including Zahedan, Saravan, Zabol, and Chabahar, and that the Revolutionary Guard has handed over some bases previously used by local forces to these elements in certain areas.

The presence of Afghan elements from the "Fatimiyoun" militia has drawn criticism from Molavi Abdolhamid, the Sunni Friday prayer leader in Zahedan, who spoke in his Friday sermon on September 18 about the introduction of "foreign and proxy forces" into Sistan and Baluchestan, calling on authorities to rely on local populations and forces, stating that he does not see great success in relying on such forces.

This coincided with the announcement by officials in Sistan and Baluchestan province of preparations for a large display of what they called "Iranian Fedayeen Brigades," with the provincial director general for political affairs, Gholam Reza Kanji, stating that about 100,000 people would participate in the program, without providing details about the participating units or their locations, and it was not disclosed whether "Fatimiyoun" members would be part of the display.

"Fatimiyoun" is one of the most prominent militias affiliated with the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, primarily composed of Afghans, with the majority of the fighters recruited into its ranks being Afghan refugees and migrants residing in Iran.

The U.S. Treasury Department stated when imposing sanctions on the militia in 2019 that the Revolutionary Guard and Basij primarily recruited "Fatimiyoun" fighters from Afghan refugees and migrants in Iran, and that some were subjected to pressures related to residency or deportation to join the fight in Syria.

There is no accurate official statistic on the number of its members, but Human Rights Watch reported an estimate of about 14,000 fighters based on an interview published by the Iranian Tasnim agency, while other estimates during the peak of the Syrian war reached about 20,000. The organization also documented the participation of Afghan children in its ranks, some of whom were not older than 14 years.

The roots of the militia trace back to Afghan fighters who previously participated in the Iran-Iraq war, before the formation of "Fatimiyoun" in its modern form during the Syrian war, led by Ali Reza Tosehli, who was killed in Daraa in 2015.

Reports describe Seyyed Hassan Mortazavi, who serves as the Iranian Deputy Ambassador in Kabul, as one of the founders of "Fatimiyoun" and a key figure in recruiting Afghan fighters and organizing the militia's activities, as well as being a senior commander in the Quds Force who handled the Afghan file.

Since 2013, the militia has participated in several prominent fronts of the Syrian war alongside the Revolutionary Guard, Hezbollah, and Assad's forces, including Aleppo, Damascus, Daraa, Homs, Hama, and Deir ez-Zor.

The recruitment operations of Afghans have raised official objections in Kabul. In 2017, the previous Afghan government demanded that Iran stop recruiting Afghan refugees and sending them to Syria, especially after reports emerged about the recruitment of children.

In the same year, Mohammad Mohaqiq, who held the position of Deputy Chief Executive of the Afghan government, sparked widespread controversy after praising Afghan fighters participating in the Syrian war and Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani during a visit to Tehran.

The Afghan presidency responded at the time that his statements contradicted foreign policy, national interests, and Afghan laws, and did not represent the government's position. His remarks faced widespread criticism within parliament, and members of the Senate called for his prosecution.

Mohaqiq was later accused of supporting the recruitment of Afghans for the 'Fatimiyoun' brigade, but he was not referred to trial or investigation for his involvement in recruitment operations.

The 'Fatimiyoun' brigade entered a different phase after the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, as its members withdrew from their positions in Syria with the collapse of the lines of pro-regime forces.

European reports indicate that most members of "Fatemiyoun" have left their positions, with some being transferred to Iran along with elements of the Revolutionary Guard, while others crossed into Iraq or moved to Lebanon with Hezbollah members.

Media reports cited former fighters stating that groups of "Fatemiyoun" arrived at Russian bases before being evacuated to Iran, while families lost contact with several fighters during the rapid collapse of the fronts. Hundreds of "Fatemiyoun" members also moved to Iraq after Assad's fall.

According to the Washington Institute, fighters from Deir ez-Zor crossed into the Al-Qaim area in Iraq before being transferred to sites belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, including Jurf al-Sakhar and Camp Ashraf in Diyala. The institute later observed the presence of militia members in a camp in Salah al-Din province, a base in Tuz Khurmatu, a training center in Balad district, and two camps in southern Baghdad and Rusafa, with the participation of Iraqi armed factions loyal to Iran facilitating their movements.

In Afghanistan, the "Fatemiyoun" file has remained sensitive since the Taliban's return to power. Last August, Taliban authorities requested residents of Malistan district in Ghazni province to report on "Fatemiyoun" members, an area from which several fighters who joined the militia originate.

With reports circulating that Iran has asked its opponents of the Taliban residing on its territory to cease their operations against the Taliban, and its assurances of not allowing any party to attack the Taliban government, Iranian authorities invited armed opponents of the Taliban to officially participate in the funeral ceremonies of former leader Ali Khamenei, alongside invitations extended to senior Taliban officials, a move that sparked the movement's displeasure over the invitation of opponents and the holding of official reception ceremonies for them.

Following the widespread criticism directed at the Taliban by media outlets affiliated with them, the Iranian Deputy Ambassador in Kabul, Seyyed Hassan Mortazavi, announced that Tehran does not support any political or military faction opposing the Taliban and does not consider armed combat against them as "resistance."

Mortazavi's statements were welcomed by the official spokesman for the Taliban, Zabihullah Mujahid, who emphasized the importance and depth of the relations between the Taliban and Iran.

Observers believe that the Iranian Deputy Ambassador's statements were made to reassure and appease the Taliban following their anger over Iran's invitation to their opponents and receiving them as an official delegation.

The current deployment of the "Fatimiyoun" in Sistan and Baluchestan brings the militia back to the forefront of military activity within Iran, after years during which most of its activities took place outside Iranian borders, particularly in Syria, while the nature of the tasks assigned to the militia in Sistan and Baluchestan, adjacent to the Afghan and Pakistani borders, remains unclear.