Dwekh Nawsha

Dwekh Nawsha
ܕܒܝܚ ܢܦܫܐ
Participant in the Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)
Active mid 2014–Present
Allegiance Assyrian Patriotic Party
Leaders Albert Kisso[1]
Area of operations

Nineveh Governorate
Nineveh plains

Northern Iraq
Strength over 200[1][2]
Allies

Iraqi Armed Forces

Peshmerga
Opponents Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

The Dwekh Nawsha (Syriac: ܕܒܝܚ ܢܦܫܐ‎; literally "one who sacrifices") is a military organization created in June 2014 in order to defend Iraq's Assyrian Christians from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), and possibly retake their lands currently controlled by ISIL.

The Dwekh Nawsha operates in coordination with the regional and international security forces.[3]

Despite being led by the Assyrian Patriotic Party, most militiamen are not members of the party.[3] Several foreign fighters have joined the Dwekh Nawsha;[4] they include Americans, French and Australians.[5]

Sons of Liberty International, who had previously trained the Nineveh Plain Protection Units, announced in fall 2015 that they will begin training Dwekh Nawsha in their fight against ISIL. [6]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Christians reclaim Iraq village from ISIS". CBS News (United States). Associated Press. 13 November 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  2. ↑ Metzger, Nils (20 April 2015). "Iraq's Assyrians battle ISIS for survival". CNN (United States). Retrieved 15 June 2015. "We have 200 people waiting right now, because we simply do not have enough weapons and training capacities," Baito says.
  3. 1 2 Henderson, Peter (30 October 2014). "Iraq's Christian paramilitaries split in IS fight". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
  4. ↑ Paraszczuk, Joanna (19 February 2015). "The American Vets Fighting Against IS (And They're Not Mercenaries)". Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
  5. ↑ Collard, Rebecca (27 March 2015). "Meet the Americans Who Have Joined an Iraqi Militia to Fight ISIS". Time. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
    Oakes, Dan; Dredge, Suzanne (16 February 2015). "Islamic State: Australian man joins 'self sacrificers' group Dwekh Nawsha fighting militants in Iraq, calls for international support". ABC News (Australia). Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  6. ↑ "Frequently Asked Questions". Sons of Liberty International. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
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