Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Man of Tai Chi

2015-08-14T16:31:33Z

Lr0^^k: Reverted to revision 672796310 by 66.87.149.90 (talk): Rollback, removal of content unjustified. . (TW)

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2013}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2015}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Man of Tai Chi
| image = Man of Tai Chi.jpg
| alt =
| caption = China poster
| director = [[Keanu Reeves]]
| producer = Lemore Syvan Daxing Zhang
| writer = Michael G. Cooney
| starring = Keanu Reeves [[Tiger Chen]] [[Iko Uwais]] [[Karen Mok]] [[Simon Yam]]
| music = [[Chan Kwong-wing]]
| cinematography = Elliot Davis
| editing = Derek Hui
| studio = [[China Film Group]] [[Dalian Wanda Group]] [[Village Roadshow Pictures|Village Roadshow Pictures Asia]] [[Universal Studios]]
| distributor = '''United States:''' [[The Weinstein Company|RADiUS-TWC]] '''Canada:''' [[Entertainment One]] '''Australia/New Zealand/Singapore:''' [[Roadshow Entertainment]] '''China:''' China Film Group '''International:''' [[Universal Studios|Universal Pictures]]
| released = {{Film date|df=yes|2013|07|05|China|2013|11|01|United States}}
| runtime = 105 minutes
| country = China United States
| language = Mandarin Cantonese English<ref>{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/keanu-reeves-side-by-side-man-of-tai-chi-interview/188744/|title=Keanu Reeves Talks SIDE BY SIDE, 47 RONIN, His Directorial Debut MAN OF TAI CHI, BILL & TED 3, and POINT BREAK LIVE|last=Weintraub|first=Steve 'Frosty'|work=collider.com|date=23 August 2012|accessdate=24 August 2012}}</ref>
| budget = [[United States dollar|US$]]25 million
| gross = US$5,421,632<ref>http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=manoftaichi.htm</ref>
}}
'''''Man of Tai Chi''''' is a 2013 Chinese-American [[martial arts film]] directed by and starring [[Keanu Reeves]] in his directorial debut, and co-stars [[Tiger Chen]], [[Iko Uwais]], [[Karen Mok]] and [[Simon Yam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.screendaily.com/reports/in-focus/chinas-new-global-strategy/5043104.article|title=China’s new global strategy|author=Liz Shackleton|date=7 June 2012|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=[[Screen Daily]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://twitchfilm.com/news/2011/12/karen-mok-joins-keanu-reeves-man-of-tai-chi.php|title=Karen Mok Joins Keanu Reeves' MAN OF TAI CHI|author=Al Young|date=2011-12-19|accessdate= 2012-07-02|work=[[Twitch Film|Twitch]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2012/06/29/village-roadshow-unit-puts-ipo-plans-on-hold/|title=Village Roadshow Unit Puts IPO Plans on Hold|author=Gavin Lower|date=29 June 2012|accessdate=2 July 2012|work=[[The Wall Street Journal]]}}</ref> ''Man of Tai Chi'' is a multilingual narrative, partly inspired by the life of Reeves' friend, stuntman Tiger Chen. The film also features Indonesian ''The Raid'' star and [[Pencak Silat]] martial artist, [[Iko Uwais]].

==Plot==
Tiger Chen (Tiger Chen Linhu) is the sole student of his elderly master's Ling Kong [[Tai Chi]] style. While Tiger excels in the physical aspects of his training, Master Yang struggles to instill in Tiger the philosophical aspects, and fears for his character. Tiger harbors a determined ambition to prove the martial effectiveness of the style, as he competes in the local Wulin (武林) contest. In between, HKPD officer Sun-Jing Shi (Karen Mok) has been leading an investigation into Security System Alliance (SSA), a private security firm owned by the mysterious Donaka Mark (Keanu Reeves). Suspected of hosting an illegal fighting operation, Sun-Jing turned one of Donaka's fighters into a mole, but he was discovered and personally killed by Donaka. Despite the setbacks, Sun-Jing wants to continue investigating, but without any evidence, Superintendent Wong (Simon Yam) had the case closed. Believing the evidence would eventually come through, Sun-Jing secretly continued investigating Donaka and things would change with Tiger's involvement.

Short of a fighter, Donaka searches for his next great fighter and took notice of Tiger during the Wulin Competition. Seeing Tai Chi as something different and noticed the innocence within Tiger's eyes; he sent an invitation to Tiger for a job opportunity at SSA. Tired of his menial courier job, he took a chance and was flown over to Hong Kong for the job interview. However, once he arrived at the interview room, he was attacked and he subdued his opponent; it was a test of his combat ability. Donaka welcomed him and offered him great financial rewards for joining his underground fighting ring; Tiger refused as it would compromise his honour by fighting for money. However, Donaka had other means of persuasion.

The following day, investigators had arrived and had the temple declared structurally unsafe; Master Yang was to be evicted and the temple demolished for new real estate development. Unclear of the legal system, Tiger sought help from Qing Sha (Ye Qing), a paralegal friend and love interest to Tiger. With Qing-Sha's help, she found a means to save the temple: historic preservation and government protection. However, even if the law prevails on their side, the temple's dilapidated status required emergency repairs within a month's time and a lot of money; Tiger relented to Donaka's offer and fought to preserve the temple.

Tiger excelled in his combat challenges. With every battle, he won large sums of money, but also evolved and enhanced his combat abilities with every match. His path allowed him to repair the Ling Kong Temple, quit his courier job, lavish his parents with presents, quickly rise in the Wulin Competition, and he seemed to have a budding romantic relationship with Qing Sha. However, with every battle, the challenges became more brutal and darkened Tiger. Master Yang wasn't a fool and noticed a change in his combat abilities and warned him of the dangers of not changing his ways. Unfortunately, Tiger didn't see a problem with his situation and continued to enjoy life; little did he realized Donaka had corrupted him.

In a recent two against one fight, Tiger won the battle, but developed a ruthless attitude and brought that mentality into the Wulin Competition. Breaking the rules of friendly and honourable competition, he viciously injured his opponent, which resulted in him being disqualified from the competition. Master Yang witnessed what happened on TV and was shocked at Tiger's ruthlessness. When Tiger came to train with Master Yang, they had an aggressive fight rather than a respectful spar. Despite his advanced age, Master Yang held his own and was forced to use his internal chi energies to palm-strike Tiger, repelling him away. Still loving his student, he continued to tell Tiger to return to the path of peace, but Tiger rejected his master's good intentions and left him saddened. Things worsened when he found out his petition to gain historical protection for his temple was rejected. A disappointed Qing-Sha revealed Tiger's vicious actions from the Wulin Competition swayed her director's decision. Enraged, he demanded the director to explain herself and she reasoned that his actions don't reflect the claimed honour and nobility of his temple's philosophy; she favoured new real estate development instead.

Still raging from what happened, Tiger demanded a fight and Donaka had Tiger face the killer mercenary, Uri Romanov. Using his rage, he quickly defeated Uri and could have killed him, but he refused; Donaka appeared in a black mask to finish off Uri. Tiger had had enough of underworld combat and wanted to leave, but Donaka laughed at Tiger thinking he had a choice of leaving. Realizing he's trapped, Tiger decided to reach out to the police. However, unknown to Tiger, Donaka had every aspect of Tiger's life recorded and Gong (Donaka's camera man) reported on Tiger's plan to defect; Donaka had a contingency plan.

Now "secretly" working with the police, Donaka set up a private tournament for a death match. Sun-Jing secretly trailed Tiger's escort to reach the secret tournament, but her car was violently knocked off the road by a garbage truck. Sun-Jing survived her attack, contacted her squad for assistance and discovered Superintendent Wong commanded communications to prevent anyone from investigating particular frequencies that may lead to Donaka; Wong works for Donaka. Several hours before the tournament, a brief video revealed the private life of Tiger, shamefully revealing how exposed his life is and how Donaka manipulated him into underground combat, corrupting him as a person. Enraged, Tiger tried to attack Donaka, but was subdued by a taser. It was then Donaka revealed his vision for Tiger: exposing his life as he slowly corrupted and made Tiger a killer before a live audience.

In the death match, Tiger was to face Gilang Sanjaya ([[Iko Uwais]]); now fully awakened to his reality, Tiger refused to fight, but challenged Donaka for a match instead. The match was over after HKPD stormed the compound and arrested everyone, including Wong; Donaka escaped capture. Back at home, Tiger was visiting the temple when he came across Donaka. They had their own private death match as Donaka declared that Tiger owed him a life and told Tiger to show him his true nature. Tiger was losing at first, but he re-embraced his Tai Chi training but it still wasn't enough to gain an upper hand. However, Donaka forced Tiger's hand as he pulled out a knife and stabbed Tiger in the stomach. It was then that Tiger used his internal powers to repel Donaka. Suffering from internal damage, Donaka told Tiger he was pleased to know Tiger did have it in him to be a killer after all, and then Donaka died on the temple grounds from the injuries inflicted by Tiger. Ironically, after long hand-to-hand combat, Tiger won by applying short distanced technique.

Some time later, Tiger repaired his relationship with his master and Sun-Jing has been promoted to Superintendent. Tiger reached out to both Qing Sha's law firm and the real estate developers and all three parties reached a compromised agreement: the temple will be part of a historical cultural village. Not only will the government protect the village, but now tourists can come and visit, to learn more about the 600-year history of the Ling Kong Temple. Finally putting that chapter of his life away, Tiger tells Qing-Sha that he intends to return to the city and open his own Tai Chi school, to continue on the legacy of the Ling Kong Tai Chi.

==Cast==
* [[Keanu Reeves]] as Donaka Mark
* [[Tiger Chen]] as Tiger Chen Linhu
* [[Karen Mok]] as Sun Jing Shi
* [[Simon Yam]] as Superintendent Wong
* Ye Qing as Qing Sha
* Yu Hai as Master Yang
* [[Sam Lee (actor)|Sam Lee]] as Tak Ming
* [[Michael Tong]] as Policeman Yuan
* [[Iko Uwais]] as Gilang Sanjaya
* [[Silvio Simac]] as Uri Romanov

==Production==
{{unreferenced section|date=January 2015}}
Pre-production began in 2008 with years-long script refinements. During the film's five years of scripting and production, Reeves acted in several [[B movies]] with lead roles as Henry in 2010's ''[[Henry's Crime]]'' and John in 2012's ''[[Generation Um...]].'' When the project eventually moved into the production phase, [[principal photography]] occurred on mainland [[China]] and [[Hong Kong]].

The film originally planned to use a camera rig dubbed the "Cam-Fu". Due to technical limitations, handheld cameras were used to film the fight scenes.

==Release==
The film [[Film premiere|premiered]] in 2013 with showings at the Beijing Film Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0520/Keanu-Reeves-spent-five-years-on-his-latest-film-Why|title=Keanu Reeves spent five years on his latest film: Why?|author=Mike Davidson|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref> and [[2013 Cannes Film Festival|Cannes Film Festival]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/20/entertainment-us-cannes-reeves-idUSBRE94J0RO20130520|title=Keanu Reeves makes director debut with Kung Fu film|author=Mike Davidson|work=[[Reuters]]|date=20 May 2013|accessdate=28 May 2013}}</ref> It was also scheduled to be shown at the [[2013 Toronto International Film Festival]].<ref name="TIFF2013">{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/jul/23/toronto-film-festival-lineup |title=Toronto film festival 2013: the full line-up |accessdate=24 July 2013|work=The Guardian|location=London|date=23 July 2013}}</ref> It became available for purchase on 27 September{{When|date=April 2015}} via the [[iTunes Store]] (VOD) video on demand, and had its theatrical release in the US on November 1.{{When|date=April 2015}}

==Reception==
{{expand section|date=January 2015}}
The work was awarded{{clarify|date=January 2014}} in [[Beijing]] and praised by recognized [[action film]] director [[John Woo]]. It has a rating of 70% on [[Rotten Tomatoes]].<ref>http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/man_of_tai_chi/</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{IMDb title|2016940|Man of Tai Chi}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|man_of_tai_chi|Man of Tai Chi}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Of Tai Chi}}
[[Category:2013 films]]
[[Category:2010s martial arts films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:American martial arts films]]
[[Category:Cantonese-language films]]
[[Category:Chinese films]]
[[Category:Chinese martial arts films]]
[[Category:Directorial debut films]]
[[Category:English-language films]]
[[Category:Films directed by Keanu Reeves]]
[[Category:Films set in Beijing]]
[[Category:Films set in Macau]]
[[Category:Films set in Hong Kong]]
[[Category:Mandarin-language films]]
[[Category:Universal Pictures films]]
[[Category:Underground fighting films]]

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T22:42:21Z

Lr0^^k: duplicate ref, lang improve

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 [[China Standard Time|CST]] (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=13+<ref name="Guardian"/>
|injuries=300+<ref name="BBC"/>
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an [[explosion]], which was believed to consist of two separate blasts occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 11.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The cause of the explosion is currently unknown, but media reports that it is most likely to be an industrial accident.<ref>{{Cite web|title = China blasts: Casualties as Tianjin shipment blows up|url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-33896292|website = BBC News|accessdate = 2015-08-12}}</ref>

==Casualties==
Initial reports on deaths stated that at least 13 were killed.<ref name="Guardian"/><ref name="cnn"/>

Earlier reports suggested that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered as a magnitude 2.3 and 2.9 earthquake on seismic scales. The smoke column resulting from the explosion was hundreds of meters high.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital;{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries. Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp |title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |work=[[MSN News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/world/asia/chinese-port-city-tianjin-rocked-by-enormous-explosion.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 |title=Deadly Explosions Hit China’s Port of Tianjin |work=[[New York Times]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="cnn">{{cite news|last1=Jiang|first1=Steven|last2=Ford|first2=Dana|title=Explosion rocks Chinese city of Tianjin; 7 reported killed|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/12/asia/china-port-explosion/index.html|accessdate=12 August 2015|work=[[CNN]]|date=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Disasters}}
*[[List of fires]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11799581/Huge-explosions-rock-Chinese-city.html A video of the blasts via the Telegraph (UK)]

{{Disaster-stub}}

{{Coord missing|China}}

[[Category:2015 disasters in China]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]
[[Category:Explosions in China]]
[[Category:History of Tianjin]]

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T21:55:10Z

Lr0^^k: add ref

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 [[China Standard Time|CST]] (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=13+<ref name="Guardian"/>
|injuries=300+<ref name="BBC"/>
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an explosion, which was believed to consist of two separate blasts, of an unknown cause, occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 11.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

==Casualties==

Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered as a magnitude 2.3 and 2.9 earthquake on seismic scales. The smoke column resulting from the explosion was hundreds of meters high.<ref name="Guardian">{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital;{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries. Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp |title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |work=[[MSN News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/world/asia/chinese-port-city-tianjin-rocked-by-enormous-explosion.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=second-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0 |title=Deadly Explosions Hit China’s Port of Tianjin |work=[[New York Times]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Jiang|first1=Steven|last2=Ford|first2=Dana|title=Explosion rocks Chinese city of Tianjin; 7 reported killed|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/12/asia/china-port-explosion/index.html|accessdate=12 August 2015|work=[[CNN]]|date=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Disasters}}
*[[List of fires]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/11799581/Huge-explosions-rock-Chinese-city.html A video of the blasts via the Telegraph (UK)]

{{Disaster-stub}}

{{Coord missing|China}}

[[Category:2015 disasters in China]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]
[[Category:Explosions in China]]
[[Category:History of Tianjin]]

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:51:14Z

Lr0^^k: added Category:Disasters in China using HotCat

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 CST (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=7+<ref name="BBC"/>
|injuries=300+<ref name="BBC"/>
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an explosion, which was believed to consist of two separate blasts, of an unknown cause, occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 7.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

==Casualties==

Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered on seismic scales.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital; ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp |title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |work=[[MSN News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Disasters}}
*[[List of fires]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:History of Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]
[[Category:Explosions in China]]
[[Category:Disasters in China]]

{{Disaster-stub}}

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:50:23Z

Lr0^^k: Add /* See also */

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 CST (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=7+<ref name="BBC"/>
|injuries=300+<ref name="BBC"/>
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an explosion, which was believed to consist of two separate blasts, of an unknown cause, occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 7.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

==Casualties==

Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered on seismic scales.<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital; ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}} Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp |title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |work=[[MSN News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Disasters}}
*[[List of fires]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]

{{Disaster-stub}}

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:46:53Z

Lr0^^k: add causalities ref

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 CST (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=7+<ref name="BBC"/>
|injuries=300+<ref name="BBC"/>
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an explosion, which was believed to consist of two separate blasts, of an unknown cause, occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 7.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name="BBC">{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The cause of the explosion is currently unknown.

==Casualties==

Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered on seismic scales. <ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital; ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries. Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp|title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin|publisher=|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]

{{Disaster-stub}}

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:44:01Z

Lr0^^k: Filled in 1 bare reference(s) with reFill ()

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox event
|title=Tianjin Explosion
|image=
|caption=
|date={{start date|2015|08|12|df=y}}
|time= ~23:30 CST (~15:30 UTC)
|venue=[[Port of Tianjin]]
|place=[[Binhai]], [[Tianjin]], [[China]]
|coordinates = 
|type=[[Explosion]]
|cause=
|url=
|deaths=7+
|injuries=300+
|website=
}}

On 12 August 2015, an explosion, which was believed to consist of two separate blasts, of an unknown cause, occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]], a city of about 7.5 million people, in the [[Port of Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

The cause of the explosion is unknown.

Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away and which registered on seismic scales. <ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|work=[[NBC News]]|date=12 August 2015|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>
According to the [[Beijing News]] and the official People's Daily and Chinese state TV, at least 300-400 people were taken to the Tianjin Harbour Hospital; ambulances and emergency rooms were overwhelmed, and many had extensive injuries, mostly [[burns]] and explosive blast injuries. Six firefighting teams were battling the resulting blaze, with at least two firefighters being treated for injuries; contact was lost with at least two firefighters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/hundreds-injured-in-china-explosion/ar-BBlGCoP?ocid=spartanntp|title=Hundreds injured after huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin|publisher=|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions in 2015]]

{{Disaster-stub}}

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:02:10Z

Lr0^^k: Filled in 1 bare reference(s) with reFill ()

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
On August 12 2015, an explosion of an unknown cause occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> Currently, the cause of the explosion is unknown. Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away. <ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626|title=Blast Rocks Chinese City of Tianjin, Hundreds Reported Injured|author=NBC News|work=NBC News|accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Disaster-stub}}
[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions]]

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T20:01:47Z

Lr0^^k: add ref/* top */

{{current event|date=August 2015}}
On August 12 2015, an explosion of an unknown cause occurred at a petrol storage station in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin |url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292 |work=[[BBC News]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> Currently, the cause of the explosion is unknown. Early reports suggest that hundreds of people were injured in the blast, which was felt several miles away. <ref name=Guardian>{{cite news |title=Huge explosion in Chinese port city of Tianjin |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/12/explosion-chinese-port-city-tianjin |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=12 August 2015 |accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref>http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/blast-rocks-chinese-city-tianjin-dozens-reported-injured-n408626</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Disaster-stub}}
[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions]]

Explosionskatastrophe von Tianjin 2015

2015-08-12T19:09:00Z

Lr0^^k: stub

On August 12 2015, an explosion of an unknown cause occurred in the Chinese city of [[Tianjin]] in the [[Binhai New Area]].<ref name=BBC>{{cite news|title=Massive explosion in China's Tianjin|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-33896292|accessdate=12 August 2015|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=12 August 2015}}</ref> Currently, the cause of the explosion is unknown.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Disaster-stub}}
[[Category:2015 in China]]
[[Category:Tianjin]]
[[Category:Explosions]]

Akhtar Mansur

2015-08-06T13:19:46Z

Lr0^^k: Filled in 2 bare reference(s) with reFill (); formatting: 3x whitespace (using Advisor.js)

{{Infobox Officeholder
|honorific-prefix = '''[[Mullah]]'''
|name = Akhter Mohammad Mansour
|image = Mullah Akhtar Mansoor.jpg
|caption = Mullah Akhter Mansoor, as seen in this undated handout photograph.
|office = Governmental offices
|primeminister = [[Mohammad Rabbani]] [[Abdul Kabir]] {{small|(Acting)}}
|term_start = as [[Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation (Afghanistan)|Minister of Civil Aviation]] from September 1996
|term_end = 2001
|predecessor =
|successor = [[Abdul Rahman (Afghan minister)|Abdul Rahman]]
|birth_date = 1963<ref name="pajhwok.com">{{cite web| title =Biography of new Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansoor| url =http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2015/07/31/biography-new-taliban-leader-mullah-akhtar-mansoor| website =Pajhwok| date = 31 July 2015| accessdate = August 2015}}</ref>
|birth_place = Karize, Band Taimor, [[Maiwand]] district, [[Kandahar Province]], [[Kingdom of Afghanistan]]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party =
|alma_mater = [[Darul Uloom Haqqania]]<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite web |title=Who is 'new Taliban leader' Mullah Akhtar Mansoor? |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/11773559/Who-is-new-Taliban-leader-Mullah-Akhtar-Mansoor.html |date=30 July 2015 |accessdate=August 2015}}</ref>
|religion = [[Islam]] {{small|([[Deobandi]])}}<ref>Deobandi Islam: The Religion of the Taliban U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps, 15 October 2001</ref>
|allegiance = [[File:Flag of Jihad.svg|border|23px]] [[Islamic and National Revolution Movement of Afghanistan|Mujahideen]] {{small|(1980's–1991)}}<ref name="pajhwok.com"/> [[File:Flag of Taliban.svg|border|23px]] [[Taliban]] (1995–present)
|serviceyears = 1980's–1991 1995 – present
|rank = Supreme commander
|battles = [[Soviet–Afghan War|Soviet-Afghan War]] [[War in Afghanistan (1978–present)|Afghan Civil War]] [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)]]
}}
'''Mullah Akhter Mohammad Mansoor''' (also spelled Mansur<ref>Robert L. Grenier - [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HIxKBgAAQBAJ&pg=PR16&dq=Akhtar+Mansur+Alliance&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBGoVChMI1ueAr4qOxwIVhewUCh0rEAT4#v=onepage&q=Akhtar%20Mansur%20Alliance&f=false 88 Days to Kandahar: A CIA Diary] Simon and Schuster 27 Jan 2015, 464 pages, ISBN 1476712077 [Retrieved 2015-08-04](previously sourced [https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=Oj7KBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA367&dq=Akhtar+Mansoor+Hezb-i-Islami&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAWoVChMI79ilqYmOxwIVQlwUCh214w62#v=onepage&q=Akhtar%20Mansoor%20Hezb-i-Islami&f=false here])</ref> and Mansour <ref>Jibran Ahmad (Additional reporting by Mirwais Harooni in Kabul, Writing by James Mackenzie; Editing by Robert Birsel) - [http://news.yahoo.com/taliban-leader-facing-tension-top-official-quits-084411182.html New Taliban leader facing tension as top official quits] Reuters and re-published by [[Yahoo]] [Retrieved 2015-08-04]</ref>) is the current [[Emir]] (leader) of the [[Taliban]]. According to a statement released by the Taliban on 30 July 2015, the group's founder and previous leader, [[Mohammed Omar|Mullah Omar]], died in 2013.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/07/taliban-elects-leader-mullah-akhtar-mansoor-mullah-omar-150730115835426.html | title=Taliban elects new leader after Mullah Omar's death | publisher=[[AlJazeera]] | date=30 July 2015 | accessdate=30 July 2015}}</ref><ref name=successor>{{cite web| title =Mullah Omar: Taliban choose deputy Mansour as successor| url =http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33721074| website =BBC| date = 31 July 2015| accessdate = 31 July 2015}}</ref><ref name="AP 2">{{cite book |url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mullah-akhtar-mohammad-mansoor-talibans-new-leader-vows-to-continue-fighting-as-he-releases-first-address-to-supporters-10433024.html|author=AP |title=News - World:Middle East|publisher= SUNDAY 02 AUGUST 2015|accessdate=2015-08-02}}</ref>
The word [[Mullah]] is understood in [[Islam]] as being a term of respect for an educated religious male.<ref name="Taheri">{{cite book | title=The spirit of Allah : Khomeini and the Islamic revolution| last=Taheri| first=Amir| authorlink=Amir Taheri| year=1985| pages=53| publisher=Adler & Adler| location=Bethesda, Md.| isbn=0-917561-04-X}}</ref><ref name="Masood Saifullah"/>

==Early life==

Mansoor is believed to have been born in a village named Kariz<ref name="Shereena Qazi ">{{cite book |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/08/profile-mullah-akhtar-mansoor-150803174828504.html|author=Shereena Qazi |title=POLITICS|publisher=published by Al Jazeera Media Network 03 Aug 2015 19:16 GMT|accessdate=2015-08-03}}(corroborates: ''Jalozai'', ''Ishaqzai tribe'',</ref> in the [[Maiwand District]] of [[Kandahar Province]] in southern [[Afghanistan]], during the 1960s;<ref name=successor/><ref name=moderation>Dam, Bette. "Mullah Akhtar Mansoor: Taliban's New Leader Has a Reputation for Moderation." The Guardian. July 30, 2015. Accessed July 31, 2015.</ref> one source gives 1963 as his birth year while another mentions 1965.<ref name="pajhwok.com"/><ref name="Shereena Qazi "/> An ethnic [[Pashtun people|Pashtun]], he belongs to the [[Ishakzai|Ishaqzai tribe]] of the [[Durrani]] tribal confederacy.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/><ref name="Shereena Qazi "/><ref name="Robert Crilly, (New York), and Ali M Latifi, (Kandahar)">{{cite book |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/11773559/Who-is-new-Taliban-leader-Mullah-Akhtar-Mansoor.html|author= Robert Crilly, (New York), and Ali M Latifi, (Kandahar)|title=Profile: Mullah Akhtar Mansoor|publisher=published by [[Telegraph Media Group Limited]] 30 Jul 2015|accessdate=2015-08-02}}</ref>

==Soviet war and mujahideen era==

He joined the [[Mullah]] [[Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi]] group during the [[Soviet–Afghan War|Russian invasion of Afghanistan]]. [[Mohammad Omar]] was then a commander of one of the groups of [[Mohammad Nabi Mohammadi]]. Mansoor participated in the [[jihad]] against the Russians in [[Maiwand]], Sang-e-Hessar, Zangawat and other parts of the city. Known as one of the prominent warriors, Mansoor joined the [[Maulvi Obaidullah Ishaqzai]] group in 1987 but later Ishaqzai surrendered to [[Anwar–ul-Haq Uloomi]], now the interior minister. Soon afterwards, he migrated to [[Quetta]].<ref name="pajhwok.com"/>

After the war, Mansoor resumed his religious education in different seminaries and later shifted to [[Peshawar]] where he joined Jamia Mohammadia at the [[Jalozai]] Refugee camp.<ref name="pajhwok.com"/> He was a student at [[Darul Uloom Haqqania]] [[madrassa]], which is where Mullah Omar also studied.<ref name="Robert Crilly, (New York), and Ali M Latifi, (Kandahar)"/> He was apparently a popular student, during his time at the madrassa from 1994 to 1995, located within the Jalozai <ref name="Shereena Qazi "/> refugee camp for Afghans near [[Peshawar]], [[Pakistan]], according to Afghan journalist Sami Yousafzai, who had occasion to meet him during those days when Mansoor was a customer of his father’s Islamic bookshop. Mansoor was reported to have joined the Taliban in its early days at a time when it was acting as a movement for the combating of warlords.<ref name=moderation/> He aided in acquiring weapons and funding for the Taliban from members of his tribe.<ref name=moderation/>

==Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan==
Appointed as a security officer in charge of the [[Kandahar airport]] he was soon picked by [[Mullah Omar]] as the Minister of Civil Aviation in the 1996-2001 Taliban-led [[Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan]].<ref name="MATTHEW ROSENBERG">{{cite book |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/29/world/around-an-invisible-leader-taliban-power-shifts.html?_r=0|author=MATTHEW ROSENBERG|title=News Analysis|publisher=[[The New York Times Company]] December 28, 2014|accessdate=2015-07-30}}</ref>

In 1997, when the Taliban tried for the first time to capture the northern city of [[Mazar-e-Sharif]], but failed, Mansoor was captured by an [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]] warlord as a prisoner of war. For two months he remained there before Mullah Omar traded him out.<ref>{{cite web|author=Sami Yousafzai| title =Up Close With the Taliban’s Next King| url =http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/31/up-close-with-the-taliban-s-next-king.html| website =The Daily Beast| date = 31 July 2015| accessdate = 31 July 2015}}</ref>

After the conclusion of the [[hijacking]] of [[Indian Airlines Flight 814]] Mullah Masour is reported, by Anand Arni a former officer with the Indian organisation [[Research & Analysis Wing]], as seen embracing [[Maulana Masood Azhar]] the then leader of [[Jaish-e-Mohammed]].<ref name="The Indian Express"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/new-taliban-chief-mullah-akhtar-mansour-escorted-maulana-masood-azhar-ex-raw-officer/|title=IC-814 hijacking: New Taliban chief Mullah Akhtar Mansour escorted Maulana Masood Azhar, says Ex-RAW officer|date=3 August 2015|work=The Indian Express|accessdate=6 August 2015}}</ref>

In 2001, he surrendered to the Afghan President [[Hamid Karzai]] to ask for amnesty. He was forgiven after which he returned to his home district. American forces however refusing to believe he and other senior Taliban commanders had given up fighting, conducted a series of night raids to capture him after which he fled to [[Pakistan]] where he helped to shape the Taliban as an insurgent organisation.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/30/mullah-akhtar-mansoor-talibans-new-leader-has-a-reputation-for-moderation|title= Mullah Akhtar Mansoor: Taliban's new leader has reputation for moderation|author= Bette Dam|work= [[The Guardian]]|publisher= [[Scott Trust Limited]]|date= August 1, 2015|accessdate= August 2, 2015}}</ref>

In a previously [[Classified information|secret state communication]] of the U.S. government, 2006, Mullah Masoor is listed as the 23rd member of the Taliban (with the late Mullah Omar as the first member).<ref name="FM Secretary of the State (Washington)">{{cite book |url=http://nsarchive.gwu.edu/NSAEBB/NSAEBB295/doc17.pdf|author=FM Secretary of the State (Washington)|title=SECRET COMMUNICATION (now unclassified) - p.131|publisher=UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF STATE REVIEW AUTHORITY 14 Dec 2006|accessdate=2015-08-05}}</ref>

==Quetta Shura and Taliban insurgency==
{{See also|Taliban insurgency}}

According to the [[Indian Express]] Mullah Masoor was appointed to the Taliban's [[Quetta Shura]] (council for political and military matters and affairs), sometime during 2007, while within [[Quetta]].<ref name="The Indian Express">{{cite book |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/new-taliban-chief-mullah-akhtar-muhammad-mansour-oversaw-ic-814-ops-at-kandahar/|author=The Indian Express|title=Indian intelligence officials allege Akhtar Muhammad Mansour, the newly-appointed chief of the Afghan Taliban, might possibly have played a role in the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 during 1999|publisher=The Indian Express [P] Ltd|accessdate=2015-08-03}}</ref><ref name="Orlando Crowcroft">{{cite book |url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/afghanistan-who-new-taliban-leader-mullah-akhtar-mansour-1513381|author=Orlando Crowcroft|title=Society - ''Politics''|publisher=[[International Business Times|IBTimes Co., Ltd]] July 30, 2015|accessdate=2015-08-04}}</ref>

A source claims to know of Mullah Masoor having a "direct influence" over military units operating within [[Khost]], [[Paktia]] and [[Paktika]], at a time after his appointment to the Council of the Taliban.<ref name="The Indian Express"/>

One source gives Mansoor as being appointed deputy to Mullah Omar during 2010,<ref name="MATTHEW ROSENBERG"/> another source states him to have been "by some accounts" the second most senior member of the Taliban behind Mullah Omar, during 2010.<ref>DEXTER FILKINS and CARLOTTA GALL - [http://www.afghanistannewscenter.com/news/2010/november/nov232010.html#1 Taliban Leader in Secret Talks Was an Impostor] published originally by The New York Times November 22, 2010 (re-published by Afghanhistan News Centre (Ruhullah Khapalwak) [Retrieved 2015-08-04]</ref> A contradictory report states his appointment occurred during 2013 after [[Abdul Ghani Baradar|Mullah Abdul Ghani Beradar]], the then deputy, was jailed.<ref name="Masood Saifullah"/>

[[Waheed Muzhda|Wahid Muzhda]] is quoted as saying in reference to Mullah Mansoor:<ref name="Masood Saifullah">{{cite book |url=http://www.dw.com/en/mullah-mansoors-rise-to-the-taliban-leadership/a-18620527|author=Masood Saifullah|title=AFGHANISTAN|publisher=published by [http://www.dw.com/en/dw-akademie/about-us/s-9519 Deutsche Welle] 31.07.2015 |accessdate=2015-08-02}}(ref. inc. - ''amir'')</ref>

{{quote|in 2013 he convinced other Taliban leaders to open the group's political office in Qatar to initiate negotiations with the West.}} a fact which is corroborated by an additional report, which states the office was within [[Doha]], [[Qatar]].<ref name="Orlando Crowcroft"/>

In a report of 2014, Mullah Mansoor together with [[Abdul Qayum Zakir]] and [[Gul Agha Ishakzai]], were stated to be wrestling for control of a major [[Opium production in Afghanistan|opium-producing area]] (land of Maiwand District) against a co-founder of the Taliban movement, [[Mullah Ghazi]].<ref name="Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team ">{{cite book |url=http://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/s_2014_402.pdf|author=Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team|title= 4th report (S/2014/402)|publisher=[[United Nations Security Council]] 10 June 2014|accessdate=2015-08-05}}(page 12)</ref>

==Leader of the Taliban==
{{See also|List of Taliban leaders}}

Mullah Mansoor released his first communication as the newly appointed leader of the Taliban on 1 August 2015. The communication is contained within a video of approximately 30 minutes duration.<ref name="AP 2"/><ref>AFP (Sky News) - [http://www.skynews.com.au/news/world/mideast/2015/08/01/new-taliban-leader-urges-unity-in-ranks.html News - World: Middle East] published by Telstra Media 1 August 2015 [Retrieved 2015-08-02]</ref>

{{quote|... We should all work to preserve unity, division in our ranks will only please our enemies, and cause further problems for us ...Our goal and slogan is to implement sharia and an Islamic system, and our jihad will continue until this is done ...}}

Some Taliban sources considered Mansoor's selection as leader to be invalid, while other senior Taliban commanders and officials preferred Mullah Omar's eldest son, Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob, to have ascended as leader.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-33746487|title=New Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour calls for unity|work=BBC News|accessdate=6 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title =Mullah Omar: the one-eyed man who was king| url =http://www.economist.com/news/asia/21660083-taliban-lose-leader-and-their-unity-one-eyed-man-who-was-king| website =The Economist| date = 30 July 2015| accessdate = August 2015}}</ref> Mullah Yaqoob is known to have publicly rejected the appointment of Mullah Mansoor.<ref name="AP 2"/>

==See also==
*[[Sharia]]
*[[Jihad]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taliban}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mansoor, Akhtar}}
[[Category:Afghan Islamists]]
[[Category:Afghan religious leaders]]
[[Category:Afghan Sunni Muslims]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Muslim theologians]]
[[Category:1960s births]]
[[Category:Pashtun people]]
[[Category:People from Kandahar Province]]
[[Category:Taliban government ministers of Afghanistan]]

Al-Haschd asch-Schaʿbī

2015-07-23T16:54:31Z

Lr0^^k: /* Major engagements */

{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = The People's Mobilization
| native_name = الحشد الشعبي
| native_name_lang = ar
| image = Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq) logo.jpg
| alt = Arabic writing "al-Hashd al-Shaabi" with an AK-47
| caption = Popular Mobilization Forces logo
| dates = 15 June 2014 – ''present''<ref name=Al-Monitor>{{cite news|last1=al Khadimi|first1=Mustafa|title=Will Sistani be able to control popular mobilization forces? |url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-sistani-righteous-jihad-fatwa-popular-mobilization.html#|accessdate=14 March 2015|work=Al-Monitor|date=12 March 2015}}</ref>
| country = {{flag|Iraq|size=23px}}
| countries =
| allegiance = {{flag|Iraq|size=23px}}
| branch =
| type = [[Militia|Government-sanctioned paramilitary]]
| role = [[Militia|Infantry (militia)]] National Guard [[Counterinsurgency]]
| size = 160,000 - 220,000 <ref name=Niqash>{{cite news|title=Better pay, better weapons: are shiite militias growing more powerful than iraqi army?|url=http://www.niqash.org/articles/?id=3614|agency=Niqash|date=January 29, 2015}}</ref>
| command_structure =[[Ministry of Interior (Iraq)|Ministry of Interior]]
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| nickname =
| patron =
| motto =
| colors =
| colors_label =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
| equipment_label =
| battles =
*[[Siege of Amirli]]
*[[Operation Ashura]]
*[[Battle of Baiji]]
*[[Dhuluiya offensive]]
*[[Second Battle of Tikrit (March 2015)]]
| decorations =
| battle_honours =
| battle_honours_label =
| disbanded =
| flying_hours =
| website =

| current_commander =
| commander1 =
*{{flagicon|Iraq}} Falih al-Fayyadh (Chairman of Popular Mobilization Committee)
*{{flagicon image|Kata'ib Hezbollah flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]] (Deputy Chairman of Popular Mobilization Committee; the field commander)
*{{flagicon image|Badr Organisation Military flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Hadi Al-Amiri]] (Head of [[Badr Organization]])
*{{flagicon image|Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Qais Khazali]] (Head of [[Asaib Ahl al-Haq]])
*[[Muqtada al-Sadr]] (Head of [[Peace Companies]])
*Shibl al-Zaydi (Head of [[Kata'ib al-Imam Ali]])
| commander1_label = Leaders
| commander2 = [[Abu Azrael]]
| commander2_label = Notable Fighters
| commander3 =
| commander3_label =
| commander4 =
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| commander5 =
| commander5_label =
| commander6 =
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| commander7 =
| commander7_label =
| commander8 =
| commander8_label =
| commander9 =
| commander9_label =
| notable_commanders =

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{{infobox war faction
|name= Popular Mobilization Forces
|native_name=''Al-Hashd al-Shaabi''
|native_name_lang=Arabic
|war= [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)]]
|image=
|caption=
|active= 15 June 2014 {{spaced ndash}} ''present''<ref name=Al-Monitor />
|ideology= Predominantly [[Twelver|Twelver Shi'a]]<ref name="Twelver Shias - Rudaw">{{cite news|title=Sunnis in Kirkuk are annoyed from the Shi'ite Popular Mobilization fighters|url=http://rudaw.net/arabic/kurdistan/011020143|agency=Rudaw|date=October 1, 2014}}</ref> [[Iraqi nationalism]]
|headquarters= [[Najaf]], [[Baghdad]]
|area= [[Iraq]]
|strength=
|clans=
*{{flagicon image|Badr Organisation Military flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Badr Organization]]
*{{flagicon image|Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq]]
*[[Peace Companies]]
*{{flagicon image|Kata'ib Hezbollah flag.svg|size=23px}} [[Kata'ib Hezbollah]]
*[[Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada]]
*[[Kata'ib al-Imam Ali]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Forces.svg|size=23px}} [[Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Forces]]
|next=
|allies= {{flag|Iran|size=23px}}
*{{flagicon image|IRGC-Seal.svg|size=23px}} [[Quds Force]]
[[File:Coat of Arms of Kurdistan.svg|25px]] [[Kurdistan Regional Government]]
*{{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan.svg}} [[Peshmerga]]<ref>http://www.cbsnews.com/news/iraq-war-isis-unlikely-alliances-between-shiites-kurds-sunnis-us-iran/</ref>
|opponents= {{flagicon|Islamic State|size=23px}} [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]]}}
The '''People's Mobilization''' ({{lang-ar|الحشد الشعبي}} ''al-Hashd al-Shaabi''), also known as the '''National Mobilization''' ({{lang|ar|الحشد الوَطنيّ }} ''al-Hashd al-Watani''),{{Citation needed|reason=This name needs a source|date=April 2015}} and as the '''Popular Mobilization Forces'''/'''Units'''/'''Committee''' (PMF/PMU/PMC), is an Iraqi state-sponsored umbrella organization composed of some 40, almost exclusively Shiite, militias.<ref>{{cite news|title=Islamic State: The caliphate strikes back|url=http://www.economist.com/news/middle-east-and-africa/21651762-fall-ramadi-shows-islamic-state-still-business-caliphate-strikes-back|accessdate=25 May 2015|work=[[The Economist]]|date=23 May 2015}}</ref> The People's Mobilization was formed for deployment against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]]. The organization was formed by uniting existing militias under the "People's Mobilization Committee" of the [[Ministry of Interior (Iraq)|Iraqi Ministry of Interior]] in June 2014. Despite being a force outside the Iraqi regular armed services, militants of the Popular Mobilization Forces openly reject the qualification of "''militia''".<ref name="Il Foglio">{{cite news|last1=Raineri|first1=Daniele|title=Assalto finale a Tikrit|url=http://www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2015/04/02/iraq-isis-assalto-finale-a-tikrit___1-v-127319-rubriche_c392.htm|accessdate=11 April 2015|work=Il Foglio Quotidiano|date=2 April 2015|language=Italian}}</ref>

==Name==
With regard to the official native name, the Arabic word {{lang|ar|الشعبي}} (''al-shaabi'') translates as "people's" or "popular", as referred to the people; the Arabic word {{lang|ar|الحشد}} (''al-hashd'') translates as "mobilization", as in the group of people mobilized rather than the process of mobilization. In other contexts ''al-hashd'' may translate as other terms such as "crowd", "horde", "throng", "gathering" or "mob".

== Background and formation ==
{{see|Special Groups (Iraq)}}
The PMF were formed by the Iraqi government on 15 June 2014 after [[Marja']] [[Ali al-Sistani]]'s fatwa on "righteous jihad" on 13 June.<ref>{{cite news|last1=al Khadimi|first1=Mustafa|title=Will Sistani be able to control popular mobilization forces? |url= http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-sistani-righteous-jihad-fatwa-popular-mobilization.html |work=Al-Monitor|date=12 March 2015|accessdate=14 March 2015}}</ref> The fatwa called for defending Shi'ite holy sites, defending [[Baghdad]], and to participate in the counter-offensive against the [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|Islamic State]], following the [[Fall of Mosul]] on 10 June 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=al Khadimi|first1=Mustafa|title=Will Sistani be able to control popular mobilization forces?|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-sistani-righteous-jihad-fatwa-popular-mobilization.html#|accessdate=14 March 2015|work=Al-Monitor|date=12 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=AP Interview: Iraq’s al-Maliki denies seeking comeback |url=http://wtop.com/middle-east/2015/02/ap-interview-iraqs-al-maliki-denies-seeking-comeback/ |accessdate=15 March 2015 |date=2 February 2015}}</ref> The forces brought together a number of Shi'ite militias, most of which receive direct support from [[Iran]]. Along with a small number of Sunni tribesmen.<ref name="International Business Times">{{cite news|title=Islamic State: Iraq Battle Against ISIS For Tikrit Led By Iran-Backed Shiite Militia Forces|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/islamic-state-iraq-battle-against-isis-tikrit-led-iran-backed-shiite-militia-forces-1835134|agency=International Business Times|date=March 3, 2015}}</ref> The forces would be to fall under the umbrella of the state’s security services and within the legal frameworks and practices of the [[Ministry of Interior (Iraq)|Ministry of Interior]]. In the course of events, some of these groups embarked on a different path, operating independently.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mamouri|first1=Ali|title=Concern in Iraq grows over unregulated Shiite forces|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/02/iraq-popular-mobilization-crimes-government-control.html|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=al-Monitor.com|date=17 February 2015}}</ref>

According to some sources, the Popular Mobilization Forces have made a fundamental difference on the battlefield, as they have undermined the superiority of IS at the level of [[guerrilla warfare]], as well as at the level of the [[psychological operations]].<ref name="al-monitor.com">{{cite news|last1=al-Khadimi|first1=Mustafa|title=Iraqi volunteers' victories don't justify atrocities|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/contents/articles/originals/2014/12/iraq-popular-mobilization-shiite-achievements-violations.html|accessdate=14 March 2015|work=al-Monitor|date=22 December 2014}}</ref>

== Composition and organization ==
While there are no official data about the strength of the Popular Mobilization Forces, there are some estimates, differing significantly; around Tikrit are believed to be about 20,000 engaged militiamen, while the grand total ranges are from 60,000 – 90,000<ref name=Niqash /> to 100,000 – 120,000 armed men,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sly|first1=Liz|title=Pro-Iran militias’ success in Iraq could undermine U.S.|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqs-pro-iranian-shiite-militias-lead-the-war-against-the-islamic-state/2015/02/15/5bbb1cf0-ac94-11e4-8876-460b1144cbc1_story.html|accessdate=22 March 2015|work=The Washington Post|date=15 February 2015}}</ref> including from 1,000 to 3,000 Sunni fighters.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wright|first1=Robin|title=In War Against ISIS, Numbers Don’t Always Tell the Story|url=http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/03/13/in-war-against-isis-numbers-dont-always-tell-the-story/|publisher=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=23 March 2015|date=13 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="Tikrit il Foglio">{{cite news|last1=Raineri|first1=Daniele|title=Dentro a Tikrit, gli sciiti arrivano sui luoghi delle stragi|url=http://www.ilfoglio.it/esteri/2015/04/04/iraq-dentro-a-tikrit-gli-sciiti-arrivano-sui-luoghi-delle-stragi___1-v-127413-rubriche_c389.htm|accessdate=11 April 2015|date=4 April 2015|language=Italian}}</ref>

The Popular Mobilization Forces consist of both new volunteers and pre-existing militias, which have been grouped within the umbrella organization formally under the control of the Ministry of Interior Popular Mobilization Units directorate.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ali|first1=Ahmed|title=Iraq’s Prime Minister Reshuffles the Security Commanders|url=http://iswiraq.blogspot.it/2014/11/iraqs-prime-minister-reshuffles.html|website=Institute for the Study of War|accessdate=15 March 2015|date=14 November 2014}}</ref> Among these militias there are the [[Peace Companies]], formerly known as the [[Mahdi Army]], [[Kata'ib Hezbollah]], [[Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada]], [[Kata'ib al-Imam Ali]], [[Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq]] and the [[Badr Organization]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi Popular Forces Warn to Disclose Coalition’s Support for ISIL|url=http://www.islamicinvitationturkey.com/2015/03/01/iraqi-popular-forces-warn-to-disclose-coalitions-support-for-isil/|accessdate=17 March 2015|work=Islamic Invitation Turkey|date=1 March 2015}}</ref>

The chairman of the Popular Mobilization Committee in the Iraqi government is Falih al-Fayyadh, who is also the National Security Adviser.<ref name="Falih al-Fayyadh - Beladi">{{cite news|title=The National Security Adviser and the chairman of the Popular Mobilization Committee arrives at Kirkuk.|url=http://www.beladinews.net/index.php?aa=news&id22=10983|agency=Beladi News|date=January 5, 2015}}</ref> The PMF are allegedly led on the battlefields by Jamal Jaafar Mohammed, also known as [[Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis]], the head of Kata'ib Hezbollah,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Badran|first1=Tony|title=Exporting the Islamic Revolution|url=https://now.mmedia.me/lb/en/commentary/564933-exporting-the-islamic-revolution|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=NOW.|date=6 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hashem|first1=Ali|title=Iraqi town celebrates victory over Islamic State|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/01/islamic-state-loses-dhuluiya.html|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=al-Monitor|date=2 January 2015}}</ref> but the chain of command runs through pre-existing leaders.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sly|first1=Liz|title=Iraq's pro-Iranian Shiite militias lead the war against the Islamic State|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/middle-east/iraq-s-pro-iranian-shiite-militias-lead-the-war-against-the-islamic-state-1.329733|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=Star and Stripes|date=16 February 2015}}</ref> According to Iraqi sources, the different militias rely on their own chain of command, and rarely work together.<ref name=Niqash /> Alongside Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, other people in charge of the PMF include: [[Qais al-Khazali]], commander of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq and [[Hadi Al-Amiri]], the chief of the [[Badr Organization]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Grappo|first1=Gary|title=Iran’s Strategic Victory: Hezbollah-ized Iraq|url=http://thedailyjournalist.com/the-strategist/irans-strategic-victory-hezbollah-ized-iraq/|accessdate=16 March 2015|work=The Daily Journalist|date=14 March 2015}}</ref> According to The New York Times, such organizational autonomy may present a challenge to the consolidation of [[Prime Minister of Iraq|Prime Minister]] [[Haider al-Abadi]]'s authority.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Barnard|first1=Anne|title=A Balancing Act as Iraq Claims Gains in Tikrit|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/13/world/middleeast/tikrit-isis-iraq.html|accessdate=16 March 2015|work=The New York Times|date=12 March 2015}}</ref>

The militias are trained and supported by military advisers, coming from [[Turkey]] (for Sunni and Turkmeni troops),<ref>{{cite news|title=20 Turkish officers train Iraqi Mobilization Forces, media sources |url=http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/04/20-turkish-officers-train-iraqi.html|accessdate=15 April 2015 |agency=Iraq Tradelink News Agency|date=15 April 2015}}</ref> [[Iran]] and [[Hezbollah]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Iran’s Influence Grows In Iraq (Daniel 8)|url=https://andrewtheprophet.wordpress.com/2015/03/14/irans-influence-grows-in-iraq-daniel-8/|website=Andrew The Prophet|accessdate=15 March 2015 |date=14 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Hashem|first1=Ali|title=Iraq’s Shiite forces claim victory over IS|url=http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2015/03/iraq-shiite-hezbollah-nujaba-victory-islamic-state.html |accessdate=20 March 2015|work=Al-Monitor|date=16 March 2015}}</ref> including prominent [[Quds Force]] figures such as [[Qasem Soleimani]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Analysis 03-06-2015 |url= http://thinktankmonitor.org/analysis-03-06-2015/ |website=Center for American and Arab Studies |accessdate=17 March 2015 |date=7 March 2015}}</ref> The PMF also appeared to have deployed at least a [[Regiment]] under the command of [[Colonel]] Jumaa al-Jumaily in [[Al-Anbar province]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Iraqi forces retake region, police station in Anbar|url=http://www.iran-daily.com/News/113939.html |accessdate=15 March 2015|work=Iran Daily|date=15 March 2015}}</ref> They are also said to have their own Military Intelligence as well as administrative systems,<ref name=Niqash /> as well as a sort of “Media War Team” which provides morale boosting, battlefield updates and propaganda videos.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Gulmohamad|first1=Zana K.|title=A short profile of Iraq’s Shi’a militias |journal=Terrorism Monitor |date=17 April 2015|volume=XIII|issue=8|page=4 |url= http://www.jamestown.org/programs/tm/single/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=43805&cHash=fb0c37346ddcdbab61870c190dda484e |accessdate=10 July 2015}}</ref>

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi ordered on April 7, 2015 that the Popular Mobilization Forces be placed under the direct command of the prime minister’s office,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Nordland|first1=Rod|title=After Victory Over ISIS in Tikrit, Next Battle Requires a New Template|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/08/world/middleeast/iraq-isis-anbar-sunni-shiite.html?_r=0|accessdate=15 April 2015|work=The New York Times|date=7 April 2015}}</ref> thus giving a further official status to the militia.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi Cabinet regards Popular Mobilization Forces an official organ, Cabinet|url=http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/04/iraqi-cabinet-regards-popular.html|accessdate=12 May 2015|work=Iraq TradeLink News Agency|date=7 April 2015}}</ref>

== Equipment ==
The equipment of the Popular Mobilization Forces is a major issue. At the end of January 2015, a video<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItK0Jb88quw|title=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItK0Jb88quw}}</ref> showed a large [[Kata'ib Hezbollah]] convoy transporting several American-made military vehicles, including an [[M1 Abrams Tank]], [[M113 armored personnel carrier|M113 armoured personnel carriers]], [[Humvee]]s, and [[MRAP]] vehicles as well as Iranian-made [[Safir (vehicle)|Safir 4x4]]s and technicals with Kata’ib Hezbollah’s flags flying.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roggio|first1=Bill|last2=Weiss|first2=Caleb|title=Video shows Hezbollah Brigades convoy transporting American M1 tank|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/01/hezbollah_brigades_c.php|website=The Long War Journal|accessdate=17 March 2015|date=28 January 2015}}</ref> According to some sources, the Iraqi government is supplying U.S.-provided military equipment to the militias.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Rogin|first1=Josh|last2=Lake|first2=Eli|title=Iran-Backed Militias Are Getting U.S. Weapons|url=http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2015-01-08/iranbacked-militias-are-getting-us-weapons-in-iraq|accessdate=17 March 2015|work=Bloomberg View}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Armed with U.S. weapons, infamous militia beating ISIS|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/armed-with-u-s-weapons-ruthless-militia-beating-isis-in-iraq/|accessdate=17 March 2015|date=2 February 2015}}</ref> Iraqi minister of transportation, and the head of the Badr Organization, Hadi Al-Amiri criticized the U.S. for the lack of providing arms.<ref>{{cite news|title="Those Kissed US Hands, Didn't Get Anything": Iraq Shiite Commander|url=http://en.alalam.ir/news/1685165|accessdate=17 March 2015|work=Alalam|date=14 March 2015}}</ref> On the other hand, U.S. officials argue that the operators of heavy weapons allegedly taken over by Kata'ib Hezbollah were regular Iraqi soldiers who raised the Hezbollah flag merely in solidarity with the militant group, while the same source acknowledge that is generally difficult to monitor U.S.-made weapons.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Missy|first1=Ryan|title=Tracking U.S. weapons grows harder in the fog of Iraq’s fragmented war|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/tracking-us-weapons-grows-harder-in-the-fog-of-iraqs-fragmented-war/2015/03/26/5d94e7a4-d313-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html|accessdate=4 April 2015|work=TheWashingtonPost|date=26 March 2015}}</ref>

Alongside U.S.-made military equipment handed over to or fallen into the hands of Popular Mobilization Forces, Iran is a major supplier; according to some sources in 2014 Tehran sold Baghdad nearly $10 billion worth of weapons and hardware. Furthermore, there is a daily supply of Iranian weapons,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hemdawi|first1=Hamza|last2=Abdul-Zahra|first2=Qassim|title=Iran eclipses U.S. as Iraq's ally in fight against militants|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/2015/01/12/iran-iraq-militants/21623533/|accessdate=20 March 2015|work=MilitaryTimes|date=12 January 2015}}</ref> including Iranian-made 106 mm anti-tank guns as well as 120mm, 82mm and 60mm mortars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Better pay, better weapons: Are Shiite militias growing more powerful than Iraqi army? |url=http://www.preemptivelove.org/better_pay_better_weapons_are_shiite_militias_growing_more_powerful_than_iraqi_army |publisher=Preemptive Love Coalition|accessdate=23 March 2015|date=31 January 2015}}</ref>

In May 2015, the United States started delivering about $1.6 billion worth of military equipment under the supervision of the Government of Iraq. According to some sources, the major beneficiaries of the weapons deliveries are to be the Popular Mobilization Forces.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Enders|first1=David|title=US Starts Sending $1.6 Billion Worth of Promised Arms to Iraq — But Who Will Get Them?|url=https://news.vice.com/topic/popular-mobilization-forces|accessdate=21 June 2015|work=Vice News|date=6 June 2015}}</ref>

== Major engagements ==
The Popular Mobilization Forces have been involved in several battles of the [[military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] since their founding, the most important being the [[Second Battle of Tikrit (March 2015)|Second Battle of Tikrit]]. After the end of the battle of Tikrit, the complex of occupation forces handed over security issues to local police and security forces.<ref>{{cite news|title=Mobilization forces hand over security affairs to local police in Tikrit|url=http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/04/mobilization-forces-hand-over-security.html|accessdate=15 April 2015|agency=Iraq Tradelink News Agency|date=4 April 2015}}</ref> 
On Monday April 6, 2015 Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that, while being heavily involved in the conquest of Tikrit, the Popular Mobilization Forces will not join the planned Mosul conquest. However, in June 2015 Shiite forces were in the [[Anbar province]].<ref name=Rudaw>{{cite news|title=Iraqi PM Abadi: Shiite militia won’t join battle for Mosul|url=http://rudaw.net/english/kurdistan/07042015|accessdate=16 April 2015|work=Rudaw|date=7 April 2015}}</ref> However, Shiite volunteers reportedly entered in Anbar Province on very first days of May, among heavy protests of Sunnite personalities.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shiite volunteers enter Anbar province|url=http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/05/shiite-volunteers-enter-anbar-province.html|accessdate=12 May 2015|work=Iraq TradeLink News Agency|date=6 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Salama|first1=Vivian|title=Iraq militias say they don't need US help in Anbar operation|url=http://uk.businessinsider.com/iraq-militias-say-they-dont-need-us-help-in-anbar-operation-2015-6?r=US|accessdate=21 June 2015|work=Business Insider|date=13 June 2015}}</ref>

== Laws and directives ==
The Laws and conduct by which the PMF should abide are those of the [[Government of Iraq|Iraqi Government]] since the [[Prime Minister of Iraq|Iraqi Prime Minister]] has the final control over the PMF. Nonetheless, [[Marja']] [[Ali al-Sistani]] issued an "Advice and Guidance to the Fighters on the Battlefields" which included a 20 points form of how the PMF should conduct themselves.<ref name="sistani.org">http://www.sistani.org/english/archive/25036/ (www.sistani.org) on 12th of Feb 2015, accessed on the 3rd of April 2015</ref>

The main points were that the PMF should treat the liberated areas locals with the [[Islamic Law]] which is as quoted from the second point which is a [[Hadith]] of the Muslim [[Prophet Muhammed]]; "Do not indulge in acts of extremism, do not disrespect dead corpses, do not resort to deceit, do not kill an elder, do not kill a child, do not kill a woman, and do no not cut down trees unless necessity dictates otherwise".<ref name="sistani.org"/> Other points included the same aforementioned guidance when treating non-Muslims and also not to steal or disrespect people even if they are the families of the [[ISIS]] fighters.<ref name="sistani.org"/>

== Criticisms and war crimes accusations ==
Some of the militias constituting the Popular Mobilization Forces have been accused of war crimes motivated by sectarian revenge reasons: according to Amnesty International, Shiite militias have abducted, tortured and killed numerous Sunni civilians<ref name="al-monitor.com"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi Shia militias accused of murder spree|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/humanrights/2014/10/iraq-shia-fighters-guilty-war-crimes-2014101311251478369.html|accessdate=16 March 2015|work=Al-Jazeera|date=14 October 2014}}</ref> and, according to Western sources, in Tikrit militants have committed some violences, while being publicily praised;<ref name="Tikrit il Foglio" /> On the wake of the conquest of Tikrit, Iraqi authorities declared that war crimes will be investigated and their perpetrators punished.<ref name="Rudaw" /> 
Highest Iraqi Shiite authorities, such as Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani or Ayatollah [[Hussein Al-Sadr]], called on the militants in the popular mobilization forces to avoid war crimes or other despicable behaviour<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mamouri|first1=Ali|title=Iraq needs justice, not revenge|url=http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/news/id_10194/Iraq-needs-justice,-not-revenge.html|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=The Arab American News|date=12 March 2015}}</ref> and ''ad hoc'' government inquiry committees have been established in order to find the truth.<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq’s PM Abadi Orders Probe Into Two Civilian Deaths at Anbar Security HQ|url=http://canadaheadline.com/world-news/asia/149-iraq-s-pm-abadi-orders-probe-into-two-civilian-deaths-at-anbar-security-hq|accessdate=15 March 2015|work=Canada Headlines|date=13 February 2015}}</ref> 
Alongside war crimes accusations, also some concerns regarding constitutionality of al-Hashd al-Shaabi have been raised. According to some critics, the Popular Mobilization Forces are not sanctioned by the Constitution of Iraq and, nonetheless, they have a budget and are paid on regular basis by the Iraqi government, whilst the legally established [[Peshmerga]] have not received their wages.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Farhadi|first1=Imad|title=The Constitutionality of the Popular Mobilization Force|url=https://menainformer.wordpress.com/2015/03/24/the-constitutionality-of-the-popular-mobilization-force/|website=The MENA Informer|accessdate=31 March 2015|date=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Shiite "Popular Mobilization" is unconstitutional|url=http://www.kurdishglobe.net/article/8EF79FCE3C546F61E02187FF98D68916/Shiite-Popular-Mobilization-is-unconstitutional-.html|accessdate=31 March 2015|work=KurdishGlobe|date=2 February 2015}}</ref>

== Related voices ==
* [[Second Battle of Tikrit (March 2015)]]
* [[Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)|Iraqi insurgency]]
* [[Iranian intervention in Iraq (2014–present)]].
* [[Private militias in Iraq]]

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

[[Category:2014 establishments in Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraqi insurgency (2011–present)]]
[[Category:Iran–Iraq relations]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2014]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of Iraq]]
[[Category:Paramilitary forces of Iraq]]