Hashemiyoun

Hashemiyoun (Arabic: الهاشميون, romanized: Al-Hashimiyoon) was a Shia Syrian tribal militia group. It was founded in early 2021 and was reportedly backed by Iran. It was primarily made up of Shia Muslims from Syria.^[14][15] It operated in Eastern Syria until the collapse of the Assad regime.^[16]

Hashemiyoun
الهاشميون
Founders	Youssef Al-Hamdan Musa Al-Mahmoud
Leaders	Youssef Al-Hamdan (Abu Issa Al-Masshadani) Musa Al-Mahmoud
Dates of operation	October 2021–December 2024
Country	Syria
Allegiance	Iran IRGC
Group	47th Regiment[1]
Headquarters	Abu Kamal
Active regions	Eastern Syria
Ideology	Shia Islamism Khomeinism Anti-Zionism
Status	Defunct/inactive
Size	200[2]
Means of revenue	Taxation, donations, and funding from Iran
Part of	Hashemite Tribes Regiment Axis of Resistance
Allies	State allies Iran Russia Ba'athist Syria Non-State allies Liwa Zainebiyoun Liwa Fatemiyoun Hussainiyoun Hezbollah Syrian Hezbollah[3][4][5] National Defence Forces[6] Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas[7] Liwa al-Quds[8] Baqir Brigade (until 2024)[9][10][11][12][13]
Battles and wars	Syrian civil war Eastern Syria insurgency Deir ez-Zor clashes (2023) October 2023 Northern Syria clashes

Founding

According to reports, the group was founded in 2021 by Shia Syrians in Abu Kamal, Eastern Syria, with backing from Iran. It was primarily made up of Shia Syrians, including tribal fighters who had converted to Shia'ism. It was founded and headquartered in the city of Abu Kamal in Eastern Syria.^[2][1]

Role in Syria

Combat support

The Hashemiyoun Brigade was formed with Iranian support to primarily combat the influence of the Islamic State and the Syrian Democratic Forces in Eastern Syria, using Shia tribal fighters from the local region.^[2] The brigade was also formed to fight alongside other Iran-backed militias (such as Zainabiyoun, Fatemiyoun, Hussainiyoun, Hezbollah) and to alleviate pressure on Shia foreign fighters and Shia militias who were already fighting in Eastern Syria.^[2][1]

Trust-building

The group was also used as a way for Iran to build trust among the tribal communities of Bedouin Arabs in Eastern Syria.^[2][1]

Ideology spreading

It was alleged that the group was used to convert Syrians to Shia Islam and exploit sectarian division in Syria. It also alleged of spreading the ideology of Iran's Islamic Revolution.^[2][1]

Organization

According to available sources, the group's leader was Youssef Al-Hamdan, also known as Abu Issa Al-Masshadani. Along with Al-Hamdan, Musa Al-Mahmoud, who was appointed by Iran as a dignitary in Abu Kamal, was also a known leader in the group.^[2]

The brigade was estimated to have around 200 fighters.^[2]

The group reportedly recruited Shia tribesmen from Bedouin tribes in Eastern Syria, who were a part of the Iranian-affiliated Euphrates Valley Tribes and Clans Council.^[2][1]

Area

The group primarily operated in, and recruited from, Eastern Syria primarily around the Euphrates river. It maintained a presence of fighters in the town of Mayadin in Deir ez-Zor, other parts of the Deir Ez-Zor governorate's countryside, as well as a presence the Raqqa Governorate. The group also maintained offices in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo as well as the countrysides of Damascus Governorate and Aleppo Governorate.^[2][1]