Exclusive: Inside a Shia militia training camp in Iraq

Subscribe to France 24 now:

FRANCE 24 live news stream: all the latest news 24/7

It''s one of Iraq''s most carefully guarded secrets.... A training camp in Dyala province, north of Baghdad. These men have been recruited by Popular Mobilisation Units, Shia paramilitary groups that have been fighting the Islamic State group since 2014 . They come from diverse backgrounds..., civil servants, bakers, engineers, .... but soon, these future militiamen will find common ground on the frontlines of war. SOT Young recruit: These courses are extremely enriching. Most importantly, we learn how to behave on the battlefield...; how to fight against and face the enemy... and to do all we can to survive.
SOT Professor: All of these recruits are driven by their convictions... They are extremely motivated and they learn quickly. Conviction. The defining word for these Shia recruits... all prepared to become martyrs... the ultimate sacrifice ; Their military training also includes an important religious component. SOT Abou Dar al Asani, religion professor: We''re here to prepare them morally and spiritually. So that they dedicate themselves - mind and body - to jihad... to the struggle. Because a man driven by faith is always a better, more efficient fighter than a man without faith.Some 150 000 men have been trained here, after responding to Ayatollah Sistani''s Fatwa against the Islamic State Group three years ago. Sistani is one of Iraq''s most revered shia clerics.

Visit our website:

Subscribe to our YouTube channel:

Like us on Facebook:

Follow us on Twitter:

[Ali-Al-Barzinji]

These are the heroes who defeated isis ... these are the real mujahedeen...❤✌🇮🇶

[chrisleverett]

:40 leon the professional in the background