Fatah Alliance
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| Fatah Alliance | |
|---|---|
| Name | Fatah Alliance |
| Native name | تحالف فتح |
| Country | Iraq |
| Founded | 2018 |
| Leader | Hadi Al-Amiri |
| Predecessor | Popular Mobilization Forces |
| Position | Big tent |
| Seats1 title | Council of Representatives |
Fatah Alliance
The Fatah Alliance is an Iraqi political coalition formed ahead of the 2018 parliamentary elections that brought together leaders associated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, veteran militia commanders, and figures from Shiite political currents. The coalition sought to convert battlefield influence from the War against the Islamic State and the Popular Mobilization Forces into parliamentary representation, positioning itself among actors such as State of Law Coalition, Al-Hadba, Sairoon Alliance, and Progressive Socialist Party in Iraq's fractious post-2010 political landscape. Its emergence affected alignments involving Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, Muqtada al-Sadr, and regional patrons like Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah.
Background and Formation
Fatah Alliance was formed in early 2018 as a coalition of lists led by commanders and politicians who rose to prominence during the campaign against ISIS and under the umbrella of the Popular Mobilization Forces, including groups linked to the Badr Organization, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and the Kata'ib Hezbollah. Key founding actors included veterans from the Iran–Iraq War, returnees from the Syrian Civil War, and politicians with histories in the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and the Dawa Party. The coalition's foundation was influenced by shifts in Iraqi politics after the 2014 parliamentary cycle, reactions to the 2016 Al-Hashd al-Shaabi formalization, and debates over relations with neighboring states such as Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
Ideology and Platform
The alliance articulated a platform combining themes of national security, reconstruction, and resistance, drawing on narratives from the fight against ISIL and calls to defend Iraqi sovereignty. Its rhetoric blended elements associated with Shiite Islamist currents prominent in Najaf, Karbala, and Baghdad, as well as pragmatic commitments to infrastructure rebuilding in cities like Mosul, Fallujah, and Tikrit. Policy priorities referenced veterans' rights, compensation for displacement from the Battle of Mosul (2016–2017), and positions on Iraq’s foreign relations involving Tehran–Baghdad relations and the role of United States–Iraq relations. The coalition's orientation contrasted with secularist lists such as Iraqi Communist Party and cross-sectarian groupings like Al-Hikma National Alliance.
Leadership and Organization
Prominent figures associated with the coalition included Hadi Al-Amiri as a leading parliamentary face and commanders from the Popular Mobilization Forces who had links to the Badr Organization and other militias. Organizationally, the alliance operated as an umbrella electoral list rather than a centralized party, with constituent groups like Badr Organization, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, and Kata'ib Hezbollah retaining separate leadership structures. Decision-making involved coordination among elders from political movements rooted in cities such as Basra, Najaf, and Karbala, and negotiations with parliamentary blocs like Fatah Bloc and alliances in the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
Electoral Performance
In the 2018 Iraqi parliamentary election the alliance performed strongly in several Shiite-majority governorates, competing with lists led by Haider al-Abadi, Muqtada al-Sadr, and secular coalitions such as Sairoon. Results delivered seats in provinces including Baghdad Governorate, Dhi Qar Governorate, and Maysan Governorate, altering coalition-building dynamics for government formation alongside blocs like Victory Alliance and Conquest Alliance. Performance in local and provincial council elections reflected ongoing regional competition with parties such as the Islamic Dawa Party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. Subsequent electoral cycles and by-elections saw shifting fortunes as new laws, voter turnout patterns, and protests such as the October 2019 protests reshaped political calculations.
Political Activities and Alliances
The alliance engaged in parliamentary negotiations over cabinet formation, budget allocation, and security policy, interacting with leaders including Barham Salih, Adil Abdul-Mahdi, and Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani. It worked with sympathetic blocs in the Council of Representatives and maintained ties to religious authorities in Najaf and militia networks connected to Tehran. The coalition also took positions on regional issues such as the Kurdish referendum aftermath and Iraqi responses to American military actions. It forged tactical alliances with parties like the Badr Organization and negotiated with cross-sectarian lists to influence the selection of cabinets and key posts including the Interior Minister and Defense Minister.
Criticism and Controversies
Critics accused the alliance of enabling the political ascendancy of militia leaders linked to groups designated by some states as terrorist organizations, raising concerns among entities such as UNAMI and Human Rights Watch about accountability for alleged abuses during counter-ISIL operations. Accusations included influence peddling, sectarian patronage in provinces like Nineveh Governorate and Anbar Governorate, and links to foreign actors including factions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Investigations by journalists from outlets covering Al Jazeera, The New York Times, and BBC News highlighted alleged corruption in reconstruction contracts and rivalries with leaders such as Muqtada al-Sadr and Nouri al-Maliki. The alliance’s ties to armed formations and its role in post-conflict governance remain central points of debate among scholars from institutions like Chatham House and think tanks focused on Middle Eastern security.