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{{Infobox War Faction
|name=Awakening groups
|war=the [[Iraq War]]
|image=
|caption=
|active=2005-present
|leaders=Sheik [[Abdul Sattar Buzaigh al-Rishawi]] (assassinated)<br />Sheikh Ali Hatem Ali Sulaiman<br />Sheikh Abdul-Jabbar Abu Risha<br />Sheikhs of Al-Bu Nimr<br />Sheiks of Al-Bu Issa
|clans=
|headquarters=N/A
|area= [[Iraq]]
|strength=103,000 in July 2008<ref name=Seeds>{{cite news
|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/world/middleeast/23awakening.html?pagewanted=all
|title=Iraq Index Tracking Variables of Reconstruction & Security in Post-Saddam Iraq
|first=Michael E.
|last=O’Hanlon
|coauthors=Jason H. Campbell
|publisher=[[Brookings]]
|date=2008-08-31
|accessdate=2008-08-31}}</ref> |partof=
|previous=
|next=
|allies=[[Multinational force in Iraq]]<br />[[Iraqi Army]] and [[Iraqi Police|police]]
|opponents=[[Al Qaeda in Iraq]]
|battles=[[Iraq War]]
}}

The '''Sunni awakening movements''', also known as the '''Sons of Iraq''' program, are coalitions between [[Arab tribes in Iraq|tribal]] [[Sheikh]]s in a particular [[Governorates of Iraq|province in Iraq]] that unite to maintain security in their communities.  The [[Anbar Salvation Council|movement]] started among Sunni tribes in [[Al Anbar Governorate|Anbar Province]] in 2005 to become an [[ad-hoc]] armed force across the country in less than a year.<ref name=Seeds/>

The awakening fighters in Iraq have been credited by some analysts with reducing levels of violence in the areas in which they operate;<ref name="Iraq government to pay Sunni groups">[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/200810151630737451.html Iraq government to pay Sunni groups] – Al Jazeera</ref> however, the rapid growth of the groups, whose salaries were initially paid for completely by the US military, has also led to concerns about some members' insurgent pasts fighting against coalition forces and to concerns about infiltration by al-Qaeda.<ref name=Seeds/> [[Iraqi Prime Minister]] [[Nuri al-Maliki]] has warned the US-armed 'concerned local citizens' are an armed Sunni opposition in the making, and has argued that such groups should be under the command of the Iraqi Army or police.<ref>[http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMzKGlyT_ahqRjtyXrAUrKIQLncA US buys 'concerned citizens' in Iraq, but at what price?]</ref>

The Iraqi Defense Ministry has said that it plans to disband the Sunni Awakening groups so they do not become a separate military force.<ref name="AwakeDisband" /> The Iraqi government plans to absorb approximately a quarter of the Awakening groups into security service or the military, but analysts fear what will happen to the remaining three-quarters.  The US is urging the Iraqi government to rapidly integrate the fighters into the national security forces.  Some experts warn there are similarities between the awakening councils and armed groups in past conflicts that were used for short-term military gains but ended up being roadblocks for state building.<ref name="Awake_USAToday" /> In 2009, some awakening groups threatened to set the streets ablaze and "start a tribal war" after not doing well in elections.<ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/02/03/africa/OUKWD-UK-IRAQ-ELECTION-SUNNIS.php ''International Herald Tribune'': Iraq Sunni group accuses tribes of poll incitement]</ref>

==Other names==
Awakening movements in Iraq are also referred to as:
*"Mercenaries" (Maliki aide,<ref>[http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5itpKoLcRTLxc8P22OJrd7ZIs440QD91JUGO81 Program in Iraq against al-Qaida faces uncertainty]</ref> al-Qa'eda<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1584898/Iraqi-neighbours-rise-up-against-al-Qa'eda.html Iraqi neighbours rise up against al-Qa'eda]</ref>)
*U.S. Military/Government of Iraq:
**"Concerned Local Citizens" - CLC<ref>[http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=47783 ''DefenseLink'': Concerned Local Citizens Vastly Improve Security in Iraq’s Diyala Province]</ref>
**"Sons of Iraq" - SOIZ<ref name=USNews>[http://www.usnews.com/blogs/news-desk/2008/2/5/the-sons-of-iraq-keep-the-peace.html ''U.S. News and World Report'': The 'Sons of Iraq' Keep the Peace]</ref>
**"Very Worried Iraqis"<ref name="NPR">[http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93267648 ''NPR'': Shiite Power Struggle Is Iraq's 'Last Battle']</ref>
**"Critical Infrastructure Security" - CIS
*"Sahwa" militia<ref>[http://www.france24.com/en/20080701-iraq-lucas-menget-al-anbar-suicide-attack-report Sandstorms and suicide bombers]</ref>
*"Former Sunni insurgents" - CFR Senior Fellow Steven Simon<ref>[http://www.cfr.org/publication/16088/role_of_the_sons_of_iraq_in_improving_security.html CFR: The Role of the ‘Sons of Iraq’ in Improving Security]</ref>

==History==
In 2005, the Abu Mahals, a tribe that smuggled across the Syrian border, was being forced out of their territory by a tribe allied with [[Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia]]. The tribe proposed an alliance with the United States force in November 2005 and began receiving weapons and training.<ref name=Seeds/><ref name=Sheiksjoin>{{cite news|url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20070325-1237-fightingbackinanbar.html|title=Iraq's Sunni sheiks join Americans to fight insurgency|publisher=SignOnSanDiego|date=2007-03-25|accessdate=2007-12-26}}</ref> In September 2006, the leader of the movement, Sheik [[Abdul Sattar Buzaigh al-Rishawi]], formed the Anbar Awakening Council also called "Anbar Awakening" to counter the influence of [[Al-Qaeda in Iraq (disambiguation)|Al-Qaeda in Iraq]].<ref name=Sheiksjoin/>

Sheik Abdul Sattar Buzaigh al-Rishawi was assassinated by a suicide bombing in September 2007.<ref>{{cite news
| url=  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6993211.stm
| title= Iraqi insurgents kill key US ally
| publisher=  [[BBC News]]
| date=  2007-09-13
| accessdate=
}}</ref> His brother, [[Ahmed Abu Risha]], took over as leader, but so far has been unable to unite the various awakening militias.<ref name=Seeds/>

In October 2008, the Iraqi government took over from the American military the responsibility for paying 54,000 members of the Awakening councils.<ref name="Iraq government to pay Sunni groups"/> Many of the Awakening fighters put little trust in the Iraqi government to help employ them.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/International/story?id=5926340&page=1 ''ABCNews'': Iraq's Sunni's Fear Life Without U.S. Oversight]</ref> "I consider the transfer an act of betrayal by the U.S. Army," said one Awakening member in response to the transfer.<ref>[http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=5928140 ''AP'': "Iraq: government takes command of Sons of Iraq"]</ref>

==Work in Iraq==
The groups are paid by the American military and the Iraqi government to lay down their arms against coalition forces, patrol neighborhoods, and to fight against other Sunni insurgents.<ref name= Seeds/> The US military says the groups help it target Al-Qaeda in Iraq more precisely and avoid collateral damage.<ref name=WPost>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/07/AR2008020703854.html?hpid=topnews Shift in Tactics Aims to Revive Struggling Insurgency]</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' writes the awakening groups have caused al-Qaeda in Iraq to soften its tactics in an effort to regain public support.<ref name=WPost />

Al-Qaeda in Iraq has condemned the groups for fighting insurgents and for standing by the “filthy crusaders”.<ref name=NYT062908>[http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/world/middleeast/29iraq.html?ref=middleeast Group Claims Responsibility for Iraq Attack]</ref> Some members of the awakening groups are former insurgents, and some awakening members have been killed by former awakening members in suicide bombings.<ref name=NYT062908 /> Sheiks who work with the awakening movement also frequently face killings which originate from outside the movement.<ref>[http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1043498.html Iraq explosion kills U.S. soldiers, Sunni allies in Anbar province]</ref>

The [[Government Accountability Office]], the audit arm of the United States Congress, has warned that the groups have still "not reconciled with the Iraqi government" and that the potential remains for further infiltration by insurgents.<ref>[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08837.pdf US Government Accountability Office (June 2008): Securing, Stabilizing, and Rebuilding Iraq]</ref>

==Disbanding==
The Iraqi Defense Ministry has said that it plans to disband the Awakening groups so they do not become a separate military force. "We completely, absolutely reject the Awakening becoming a third military organization," Iraqi Defense Minister Abdul-Qadir al-Obaidi said. Al-Obaidi said the groups also would not be allowed to have any infrastructure, such as a headquarters building, that would give them long-term legitimacy.<ref name="AwakeDisband">[http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/world/12/23/1223iraqdaily.html Iraq pledges to disband Sunni volunteer militias]</ref>

The Iraqi government has pledged to absorb about a quarter of the men into the Shiite dominated military and security services, and to provide vocational training to the rest of the members of the Awakening groups. The Iraqi Interior Ministry has agreed to hire about 7,000 men on temporary contracts and plans to hire an additional 3,000; however, the ministry hasn't specified the contract length or specific positions for the men to fill.<ref name="AwakeDisband"/> Deborah D. Avant, director of international studies at the University of California-Irvine, said there are ominous similarities between the awakening councils and armed groups in past conflicts that were used for short-term military gains but ended up being roadblocks for state building.<ref name="Awake_USAToday">[http://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2007-12-23-1748979433_x.htm Sunni fighters need political role]</ref>

According to Ramzy Mardini, an Iraq expert at The Jamestown Foundation, "the rise of the Awakening councils may risk reigniting the [[Mahdi Army|Jaysh al-Mahdi]]".  On February 22, 2008, [[Muqtada al-Sadr]] announced that he will extend his ceasefire on his Jaysh al-Mahdi militia.<ref name="Jamestown">[http://www.jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2373988 Uncertainty Facing Iraq’s Awakening Movement Puts U.S. Strategy at Risk]</ref>  But according to Mardini, the uncertainty facing the Awakening movement's status may cut that ceasefire short. Mardini suggests that if the movement's demands are not satisfied by Iraq's central government, the U.S. 'surge' strategy is at risk for failing, "even to the point of reverting back to pre-surge status".  Those demands include that Awakening fighters be incorporated into Iraq's security forces, having permanent positions and payrolls.<ref name="Jamestown" />

Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri Al-Maliki]] recently offered 3,000 of the 100,000 Sons of Iraq members jobs in Diyala in hopes that it would lead to information about militants in the area.<ref>[http://www.upi.com/Emerging_Threats/2008/08/06/Sons-of-Iraq-join-Diyala-offensive/UPI-56801218068861/ Sons of Iraq join Diyala offensive]</ref>

In March 2009, the leader of the Awakening Movement in [[Fadhil]], [[Baghdad]], was arrested on allegations of murder, extortion and "violating the [[Constitution of Iraq|Constitution]]". [[Adel al-Mashhadani]] was accused of being the Fadhil leader of the banned [[Baath_Party#The_Iraq-based_Ba.27ath_Party|Baath Party]]'s military wing. His arrest sparked a two day gunbattle between Awakening members and government security forces.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/03/200932917620568226.html Awakening group in Baghdad battle], ''[[Al Jazeera]]'', 2009-03-29</ref> In November 2009 he was convicted and sentenced to death for murder and kidnapping.<ref>[http://www.kswo.com/Global/story.asp?S=11536741 Iraq sentences militia leader to death], ''[[Associated Press]]'', 2009-11-19</ref>

==Governorate elections in 2009==

Several political parties formed out of the Awakening movements contested the [[Iraqi governorate elections, 2009]]. The [[Iraq Awakening and Independents National Alliance]] list won the largest number of seats in [[Al Anbar governorate election, 2009|Anbar governorate]].

==See also==
{{Portal box|Iraq War|Iraq}}

* [[Al Qaeda in Iraq]]
* [[Abdul Sattar Buzaigh al-Rishawi]]
* [[Civil war in Iraq]]
* [[Iraq War troop surge of 2007]]
* [[2005 in Iraq]]
* [[2006 in Iraq]]
* [[2007 in Iraq]]
* [[2008 in Iraq]]

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

==External links==
* [http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2007/04/iraq_report_anbar_awakening_sp.asp ''The Weekly Standard'': Iraq Report: Anbar Awakening Spreads, Petraeus Connects Iran to Attacks in Iraq]
* [http://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/sons-iraq-and-awakening-forces ''Institute for the Study of War'': Backgrounder: Sons of Iraq and Awakening Forces]
* [http://www.michaeltotten.com/archives/001514.html Michael Totten: The Battle of Ramadi]
* [http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/12/the_awakening_al_qae.php The Long War Journal: The Awakening, al Qaeda clash in Iraq]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/01/08/iraq.main/index.html CNN: Iraqi Awakening Council members kidnapped, killed]
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/29/MNUCT2H61.DTL ''SFGate'': 10 tribal leaders aiding U.S. abducted]
* [http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/03/10/iraq.main/index.html Teen female bomber tricks, kills Iraqi CLC sheik]
* [http://smallwarsjournal.com/blog/2007/08/anatomy-of-a-tribal-revolt Kilcullen, David. "Anatomy of a Tribal Revolt." Small Wars Journal. 8/29/2007.]
* [http://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/sons-iraq-and-awakening-forces Ahmed, Farook. "Backgrounder #23: Sons of Iraq and Awakening Forces." Institute for the Study of War. 2/21/2008.]
* [http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JK19Ak02.html ''ATimes'': Al-Qaeda 'awakens' in Iraq]

{{Armed Iraqi Groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awakening Movements}}
[[Category:Counter-insurgency]]
[[Category:2005 in Iraq]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2005]]
[[Category:2006 in Iraq]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2006]]
[[Category:2007 in Iraq]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 2007]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism policy of the United States]]
[[Category:Counter-terrorism]]
[[Category:Islamic terrorism]]
[[Category:Occupation of Iraq]]
[[Category:Politics of Iraq]]
[[Category:Religion and violence]]
[[Category:Iraq – United States relations]]
[[Category:War on Terror|War on Terrorism]]

[[ar:المجلس الوطني لإنقاذ العراق]]
[[fa:شوراهای بیداری]]
[[fr:Sahwa]]
[[Category:2Fix]]