{
  "id": 5272845,
  "title": "Iranian-backed militia Badr admits it killed, wounded thousands of protesters in Iraq in 2019",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/03/iranian-backed-militia-badr-admits-it-killed-wounded-thousands-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-03T07:28:29.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-907404"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hadi al-Amiri, the leader of the influential Badr militia, appears to have admitted responsibility for the deaths and injuries of thousands of protesters in Iraq during the October 2019 movement. For years, it was known that Iranian-backed militias were likely involved in suppressing the protests, but concrete evidence was lacking. In his speech, Amiri accused the protesters of sedition and tried to justify the violent crackdown on the demonstrators as a defense of the state and political system. He specifically targeted the Badr Organization, which is part of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces, accusing them of massacring hundreds or thousands of people. This confession comes amid efforts to disarm and control the militias, with some powerful groups refusing to disarm or presenting conditions for surrendering their weapons. The controversy surrounding Amiri's remarks has sparked calls for investigations and potential lawsuits against him and the Badr Organization.",
  "summary": "A video of Hadi al-Amiri saying \"the resistance stood bravely in the face of (the October fitna, as it was dubbed) and preserved the state and political system,” began circulating.",
  "key_points": [
    "Iranian-backed militia Badr admits killing, wounding thousands of Iraq protesters in 2019.",
    "Leader Hadi al-Amiri blames protesters, justifies violent crackdown as state defense.",
    "Call for investigations and lawsuits against Badr Organization amid disarmament efforts."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The admission by Badr's leader Hadi al-Amiri shifts the debate on disarming and controlling Iraqi militias, as it undermines efforts to evade accountability for their actions during the 2019 protests.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}