Shia militias

Heard in 3 episodes across 2 shows since Sep 2026

Shia militias are armed paramilitary groups, primarily active in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon, that operate either independently, as part of state security apparatuses, or under the influence of foreign powers like Iran. Many of these groups, such as the Badr Organization and the Mahdi Army, emerged or grew significantly following the 2003 invasion of Iraq and have played major roles in regional conflicts, including the fight against ISIS.