Iraqi expert on armed groups shot dead in Baghdad

An Iraqi analyst who was a leing expert on Islamic State and or armed groups was shot de in Baghd on Monday after receiving threats from Iran-backed militias.

Gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on Hisham al-Hashimi, 47, outside his home in Zeyouneh area of Baghd, a family member said, speaking on condition of anymity for security reasons. family member heard five shots fired.

Security officials, speaking on condition of anymity in line with regulations, said he was later prounced de at a hospital.

Al-Hashimi was a well-connected security analyst who appeared regularly on Iraqi television and whose expertise was sought out by government officials, journalists and researchers.

Weeks before his death, al-Hashimi h told confidantes he feared Iran-backed militias were out to get him. Friends h vised him to flee to rrn city of Irbil, in semi-automous Kurdish region.

He rose to prominence as an expert on inner workings of IS and even vised US-led coalition during its yearslong battle with extremists.

After Iraq declared victory over IS in December 2017, he increasingly turned his attention to Iran-backed militias that helped to defeat IS and w wield considerable power in country. He was an outspoken critic of some of se groups, which have thousands of heavily armed fighters.

Iran-backed groups have been blamed for a spate of recent rocket attacks targeting US interests. Authorities launched a raid last week in which y detained 14 members of powerful Kataib Hezbollah group in Baghd, but all but one were released just days later, in what was widely seen as a capitulation by government.

In some of his final tweets before he was killed, al-Hashimi lamented country's bitter divisions and corruption plaguing its political system.

“ rights, blood and dignity of Iraqis have been lost, and ir money gone into pockets of corrupt politicians," he tweeted Sunday.