The Dwekh Nawsha ( syr, ܕܒ݂ܝܚ ܢܦ̮ܫܐ; literally "one who sacrifices") was a

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

military organization created in June 2014 in order to defend Iraq's

Assyrian Assyrian may refer to: * Assyrian people, the indigenous ethnic group of Mesopotamia. * Assyria, a major Mesopotamian kingdom and empire. ** Early Assyrian Period ** Old Assyrian Period ** Middle Assyrian Empire ** Neo-Assyrian Empire * Assyrian ...

population from the

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant An Islamic state is a State (polity), state that has a form of government based on sharia, Islamic law (sharia). As a term, it has been used to describe various historical Polity, polities and theories of governance in the Islamic world. As a t ...

(ISIL), and possibly retake their lands currently controlled by ISIL. The militia defends the Christian cities in the

Nineveh province Nineveh Governorate ( ar, محافظة نينوى, syr, ܗܘܦܪܟܝܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ, Hoparkiya d’Ninwe, ckb, پارێزگای نەینەوا, Parêzgeha Neynewa), also known as Ninawa Governorate, is a Governorates of Iraq, governorate in nor ...

of the historical Assyria region. The Dwekh Nawsha operates in coordination with the regional and international security forces. Despite being led by the

Assyrian Patriotic Party The Assyrian Patriotic Party ( aii, ܓܒܐ ܐܬܪܢܝܐ ܐܬܘܪܝܐ, commonly known as Atranaya) is a political party in Iraq representing Assyrians that has been led by Emanuel Khoshaba Youkhana, since the 4th APP conference in Duhok in 2011. I ...

, most militiamen are not members of the party. Several Christian foreign fighters have joined the ''Dwekh Nawsha''; they include

Americans Americans are the Citizenship of the United States, citizens and United States nationality law, nationals of the United States, United States of America.; ; Although direct citizens and nationals make up the majority of Americans, many Multi ...

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

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and

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. Sons of Liberty International, who had previously trained the

Nineveh Plain Protection Units The Nineveh Plain Protection Units ( syc, ܚܕܝ̈ܘܬ ܣܬܪܐ ܕܫܛܚܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ ; ar, وحدات حماية سهل نينوى) or NPU is an Assyrian military organization that was formed in late 2014, largely but not exclusively by Assy ...

, announced in fall 2015 that they will begin training Dwekh Nawsha in their fight against ISIL. A report by the ''

Assyrian Policy Institute The Assyrian Policy Institute (API) is a non-governmental and nonprofit organization based in the United States that primarily advocates for the rights of Assyrians and other minorities in the Middle East including Yazidis and Mandaeans. Early ...

'' released in June 2020 claimed that Dwekh Nawsha was eventually disbanded and that all of its social media accounts have been deleted.

References

External links

Westerners join Iraqi Christian militia to fight Islamic State in Iraq – ANIFormer US soldier joins militia to defend Christian faith in Iraq – PBS
{{Armed Iraqi groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War 2014 establishments in Iraq Anti-ISIL factions in Iraq Assyrian organizations Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013) War in Iraq (2013–2017) Military units and formations established in 2014 Military wings of nationalist parties Paramilitary forces of Iraq

See also

References

External links