An Iranian-funded religious academy in Iraq is training around 1,500 recruits from several Arab countries to use "combat weapons" and engage in "street fighting," according to the Gulf Daily News, a newspaper in Bahrain.
Iran has spent $1 million to establish and fund the camp, according to the report. Training began over the weekend.
Citizens from a multitude of Arab nations have joined the terror training camp, according to a report in Gulf Daily News’ Arabic language sister publication, Akhbar Al Khaleej:
Apart from members of Hawza Ilmiyya Najab, the religious academy, those being trained include citizens from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Syria and other Arab countries, the report adds.
Their countries' national flags were flown over the main gate of the camp during the opening ceremony of the camp, it says.
Several Iraqi and Iranian officials are said to have attended the training facility’s opening ceremonies.
"Mohmmed Redha Ali Al Sistani, son of Iranian religious scholar Ali Al Sistani; Iraqi Transport Minister Hadi Al Amiri; Higher Education and Scientific Research Minister and a senior member of Iraq Islamic Dawa Party Ali Al Adeeb; Iranian General Qasim Sulaimani and other members of the State of Law Coalition attended the ceremony," the report stated.