Soldiers of Heaven

Soldiers of Heaven
جند السماء
LeadersDia Abdul Zahra Kadim †
Ahmad al-Hassan
Dates of operationc.2003 - c.2008
IdeologyMillenarianism
Apocalypticism
Shia Jihad
Size1000
Allies Saudi Arabia (alleged)[1]
Al-Qaeda (alleged)
Ba'ath Party (alleged)
Jamaat Ansar al-Sunna (alleged)
Opponents Iraq
 United States
 United Kingdom
Battles and warsIraq War

The Soldiers of Heaven or Jund As-Samāʾ (Arabic: جند السماء) were an armed Iraqi Shi'a messianic sect known for fighting in the January 2007 Battle of Najaf against government forces and U.S. and U.K. occupying forces. Led by Dia Abdul Zahra Kadim, who was killed in the battle,[2] [3][4] the Soldiers of Heaven were accused of trying to start a "messianic insurrection" at the holy city of Najaf during the festival of Ashura.[5]

Prior to the battle, members of the sect were settled with their families at a "camp in Zarga, north of Najaf",[5] where "the main part" of the fighting took place.[5]

The group has been described as an apocalyptic Muslim cult[6] that separated from another group called the "Supporters of the Imam Mahdi" led by Ahmad al-Hassan.[5] The Soldiers of Heaven were said to believe that spreading chaos would hasten the return of the 12th Imam/Mahdi,[6][7][8] who will then rule the world, destroying tyranny and falsehood and bringing peace and justice before the 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[9] and that there was continued activity by the sect.[10]

  1. ^ "محافظ النجف يتهم السعودية بتمويل "جند السماء" | Radiosawa". Radiosawa.com. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  2. ^ Zavis, Alexandra (2008-01-19). "80 killed in clashes in Iraq". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ^ Paley, Amit R. (2008-01-19). "Dozens Killed in Clashes In S. Iraq: Obscure Sect Presents First Major Challenge For Area's Iraqi Forces". The Washington Post.
  4. ^ Fighters for Shiite Messiah Clash with Najaf Security, 250 Dead Over 60 Dead in Baghdad, Kirkuk Violence, Informed Comment, Juan Cole
  5. ^ a b c d Filiu, Apocalypse in Islam , 2011: p.160
  6. ^ a b DePillis, Lydia (2008-01-19). "Today's Papers: Kick in the Pants". Slate.
  7. ^ "US-Iraqi Forces Kill 250 Militants in Najaf", The Age, 29 January 2007
  8. ^ Cult plotted attack on Shiite clerics, Iraqis say - CNN January 29, 2007
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference sentenced-MET-2-9-2007 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference cult-guardian-19-1-2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).