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{{Short description|Iraqi Shi'a militant group (c.2003 - c.2008)}}
{{Infobox war faction
| name = Soldiers of Heaven
| native_name = جند السماء
| native_name_lang = ar
| war =
| image =
| caption =
| active = c.2003 - c.2008
| ideology = [[Millenarianism]] [[Apocalypticism]]
| position =
| leaders = [[Dia Abdul Zahra Kadim]]{{KIA}} [[Ahmed al-Hasan]]
| headquarters =
| area =
| size = 1000
| allies = {{KSA}} (alleged)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiosawa.com/archive/2007/02/22/%D9%85%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AC%D9%81-%D9%8A%D8%AA%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%AA%D9%85%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%AC%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%A1|title=محافظ النجف يتهم السعودية بتمويل "جند السماء" | Radiosawa|website=Radiosawa.com|access-date=27 November 2021}}</ref> {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004-2005).svg|size=23px}} [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq|Al-Qaeda]] (alleged) {{flagdeco|Ba'athist Iraq}} [[Iraqi Baath Party|Ba'ath Party]] (alleged) {{flagicon image|Al-Liwaa.svg}} [[Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna]] (alleged)
| opponents = {{flag|Iraq}} {{USA}} {{GBR}}
| battles = [[Iraq War]]
* [[Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)]]
*[[Battle of Najaf (2007)]]
*[[2008 Iraqi Day of Ashura fighting]]
}}

The '''Soldiers of Heaven''' ({{langx|ar|جند السماء}}; Jund As-Samāʾ) were an [[Iraq]]i [[Shia Islam|Shia]] religious militant [[cult]] known for fighting in the [[Battle of Najaf (2007)|Battle of Najaf]] in January 2007 against Iraqi, [[United States|American]] and [[United Kingdom|British]] forces. Led by [[Dia Abdul Zahra Kadim]], who was killed in the battle,<ref>{{cite web
|url = https://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-iraq19jan19,0,4037083.story?coll=la-home-center
|title = 80 killed in clashes in Iraq
|first = Alexandra
|last = Zavis
|work = Los Angeles Times
|date = 2008-01-19
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/18/AR2008011803321.html
|title = Dozens Killed in Clashes In S. Iraq: Obscure Sect Presents First Major Challenge For Area's Iraqi Forces
|first = Amit R.
|last = Paley
|newspaper = [[The Washington Post]]
|date = 2008-01-19
}}</ref><ref>[http://www.juancole.com/2007/01/fighters-for-shiite-messiah-clash-with.html Fighters for Shiite Messiah Clash with Najaf Security, 250 Dead Over 60 Dead in Baghdad, Kirkuk Violence], Informed Comment, Juan Cole</ref> the Soldiers of Heaven were accused of trying to start a "[[Messianism|messianic]] insurrection" at the holy city of [[Najaf]] during the event of [[Ashura]].<ref name=JPFAiI2011:160/>

Prior to the battle, members of the group were settled with their families at a "camp in Zarga, north of Najaf",<ref name="JPFAiI2011:160">[[JPFAiI2011|Filiu, ''Apocalypse in Islam '', 2011]]: p.160</ref> where "the main part" of the fighting took place.<ref name=JPFAiI2011:160/>

The group has been described as an apocalyptic Muslim [[destructive cult|cult]]<ref name=depillis/> that separated from another group called the "Supporters of the Imam Mahdi" led by [[Ahmed al-Hasan]].<ref name=JPFAiI2011:160/> The Soldiers of Heaven were said to believe that spreading chaos would hasten the return of the [[12th Imam]]/[[Mahdi]],<ref name=depillis>{{cite web
|url = http://www.slate.com/id/2182511/
|title = Today's Papers: Kick in the Pants
|first = Lydia
|last = DePillis
|publisher = Slate
|date = 2008-01-19
}}</ref><ref name=theage-2007>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-iraqi-forces-kill-250-militants-in-najaf/2007/01/29/1169919241141.html "US-Iraqi Forces Kill 250 Militants in Najaf"], [[The Age]], 29 January 2007</ref><ref name=cnn-cult-2007>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080125052818/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/01/29/iraq.main/index.html Cult plotted attack on Shiite clerics, Iraqis say] - [[CNN]] January 29, 2007</ref> who will then rule the world, destroying tyranny and falsehood and bringing peace and justice before the [[Judgement Day in Islam|Day of Judgement]].

While some sources report that the Soldiers of Heaven were annihilated at the Battle of Najaf, others report that a large number were captured<ref name=sentenced-MET-2-9-2007/> and that there was continued activity by the sect.<ref name=cult-guardian-19-1-2008/>

==Leadership==
Dia Abdul-Zahra, also known as Abu Kamar, claimed to be the [[Mahdi]], a messiah-like figure in Islam.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20081007223956/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,7374-2572582,00.html Iraqi cult and its 'messiah' destroyed near Najaf], Times Online UK, 29 January 2007</ref> Iraqi officials have claimed that [[Ahmed al-Hassan]], another leader in the group involved in the fighting against American and Iraqi forces, and was also a participant in the fighting in Najaf, is actually a Sunni pretending to be a Shiite, with an Iraqi general from the [[Babil Governorate]] telling the [[New York Times]] in an interview, "He is a [[Wahhabi]] he is from a Sunni town". Two rival Shiite clerics also made these claims regarding Hassan denying he was a Shiite, however other Shiite clerics have stated Hassan studied at a Shiite seminary in Najaf but later broke off from it. Iraqi MP [[Jalal al-Din Ali al-Saghir]] said regarding Hassan "I am 100 percent sure that the group's deputy was a security officer with the [[Ba'athist Iraq|old regime]]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/01/world/middleeast/01iraq.html?_r=2&ref=middleeast&oref=slogin&oref=slogin|title = Mystery Arises over Identity of Militia Chief in Najaf Fight|newspaper = The New York Times|date = February 2007|last1 = Cave|first1 = Damien}}</ref>

==Background==
===Beliefs===
According to reports, The Soldiers of Heaven are/were:
* "profoundly" Iraqi nationalist and anti-Iranian;<ref name="JPFAiI2011:158-9">[[JPFAiI2011|Filiu, ''Apocalypse in Islam '', 2011]]: p.158-9</ref>
* hostile to the Shia clerical hierarchy and "particularly to [[Ayatollah Sistani]], (a native of Iran, though he has lived in Najaf since 1952);<ref name=JPFAiI2011:158-9/>
* believe their former leader Dia Abdul Zahra Kadim was the Mahdi and he was the reincarnation of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib;<ref name=LAT-rebel-30-1-2007>{{cite news |title=Rebel Muslims longed for doomsday / 'Heaven's Army' battled near Najaf with high-tech arms |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=30 January 2007 |first1=Louise |last1=Roug |first2=Saad |last2=Fakhrildeen |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Rebel-Muslims-longed-for-doomsday-Heaven-s-2653223.php |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>
* believe spreading chaos will hasten the return of the Hidden Imam.<ref name=depillis/><ref name=theage-2007/><ref name=cnn-cult-2007/>

==Membership==
The members of the group, which numbered around 1,000,<ref>"Using that self aggrandizing, self appointed title, al Hassan built up a force of a thousand men" [http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1249368,00.html The Hidden Imam's Dream] - Sky News, January 30, 2007</ref> appeared to be mostly poor Shi'a farmers from an agricultural area 19 kilometres northeast of Najaf, but they also seemed to have been heavily armed. In spite of their poverty, the group appeared to have amassed a great deal of wealth.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/earthly-luxuries-for-soldiers-of-heaven/story-e6frg6so-1111112922659 "Earthly luxuries for Soldiers of Heaven"], [[The Australian]], February 1, 2007</ref> Some (including Iraqi officials) have also claimed that the group included former Iraqi personnel affiliated with [[Saddam Hussein]]'s government and the (formerly) ruling [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Baath Party]]. According to Iraqi officials according to the Associated Press, "Sunni extremists and Saddam Hussein loyalists were helping the cult" attempt to attack pilgrims and clerics.<ref name="AP-leader-29-1-2007">{{cite news |title=Iraqi army says it killed leader of messianic cult |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2007/01/29/iraqi-army-says-it-killed-leader-of-messianic-cult/ |access-date=4 June 2022 |agency=THE ASSOCIATED PRESS |date=29 January 2007}}</ref>

==Activities==
On January 28, 2007, the group apparently fought a bizarre [[Battle of Najaf (2007)|battle with Iraqi and U.S. forces]] near [[Najaf]] where it is alleged about 200–300 of their members were killed, including its leader, and 300–400 were captured.<ref>[http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1249248,00.html Cult Leader is Killed] - Sky News, January 29, 2007</ref> [[Asaad Abu Gilel]], the [[governor]] of [[Najaf]] has claimed that members of the group, including women and children, planned to disguise themselves as [[pilgrims]] and kill leading Shi'a [[cleric]]s during the [[Ashoura]] holiday.<ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/us-iraqi-forces-kill-250-militants-in-najaf/2007/01/29/1169919241141.html?page=2 Page 2], US, Iraqi forces kill 250 militants in Najaf, The Age, January 29, 2007</ref>

Significant questions remain regarding the group and the combat effectiveness it displayed, including shooting down an American [[AH-64 Apache]] [[helicopter gunship]]. Virtually all information about the group and the battle has come from Iraqi officials, who have released incomplete and sometimes contradictory accounts.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070130/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_what_happened Analysis: Najaf battle raises questions ] - Yahoo! News, January 30, 2007</ref> Iraqi officials, including Najaf deputy governor [[Abdel Hussein Attan]], had claimed that the group had links with [[al-Qaeda]], but given that [[Sunni]] [[jihad]]ists are fiercely anti-Shia, this seemed unlikely.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6313433.stm Bizarre tale of Shia messianic cult plot], BBC, 30 January 2007</ref>

After the battle, Iraqi police rounded up hundreds of sect members and put them on trial. On September 2, 2007, the criminal court passed judgement on 458 accused. Ten leaders of the Soldiers of Heaven were [[death penalty|sentenced to death]], 54 members were released, and the rest were sentenced to jail terms ranging from 15 years to life, Najaf [[police chief]] [[Brigadier General]] [[Abdel Karim Mustapha]] said.<ref name=sentenced-MET-2-9-2007>"10 Iraqi cult members sentenced to death", ''[[Middle East Times]]'', September 2, 2007</ref>

On January 18, 2008 the Soldiers of Heaven were involved in [[2008 Iraqi Day of Ashura fighting|fighting]] in [[Basra]] and [[Nassiriya]].<ref name=cult-guardian-19-1-2008>[https://www.theguardian.com/Iraq/Story/0,,2243389,00.html Troops clash with Shia cult in southern Iraq], Kim Game, Associated Press, ''[[The Guardian]]'', January 19, 2008</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7197473.stm|title=Iraqi Shia pilgrims mark holy day|date=19 January 2008|access-date=27 November 2021|website=News.bbc.co.uk}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of extinct Shia sects]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
===Books===
*{{cite book |last = Filiu |first = Jean-Pierre |translator-last = DeBevoise |translator-first = M. B. |title = Apocalypse in Islam |url = https://archive.org/details/apocalypseinisla0852fili_W3CSK |year = 2011 |publisher = University of California Press |location = Berkeley |isbn = 978-0-520-26431-1 |ref=JPFAiI2011}}

{{Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}}

[[Category:Arab militant groups]]
[[Category:Factions in the Iraq War]]
[[Category:Rebel groups in Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)]]
[[Category:Islam in Iraq]]
[[Category:Shia Islamic branches]]
[[Category:Apocalyptic groups]]
[[Category:Millenarianism]]
[[Category:Shia Islamist groups]]
[[Category:Mahdism]]
[[Category:Islamic new religious movements]]

Soldiers of Heaven - Revision history

imported>Deltaspace42: Reverted 1 edit by ~2026-16102-15 (talk): Unexplained removal