Is Iran Using ISIS Name to Hide Its Role in Assassinating a Prominent Anti-Iranian Historian?

News of a deadly shooting targeting well-known Iraqi historian and political commentator Hisham Al-Hashimi and ending in his assassination last night in a Baghdad street broke out. Friends of the late researcher and analyst accused Iran of killing him, despite an announcement by the terrorist group ISIS claiming the assault.

A short video footage showed 47-years-old Al-Hashimi's last moments as he was approached by two gunmen near his home on Monday evening.

The Iraqi expert on terrorist organizations, who served as a counter-terrorism expert to the Iraqi government, was a frequent TV figure as he appeared on a regular basis on several Arabic-speaking news outlets to offer in-depth analysis of Iraqi affairs, especially ones related to Iranian militias and ISIS.

In his last tweet only a few minutes before he was killed, Al-Hashimi referred to "Iraq's deep political divisions amongst Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkman and other minorities," saying that "such labels were brought to the country by the US occupation."

Translation: "Iraqi divisions are confirmed as follows: 1- the quota system brought by the occupation "Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkmens and other minorities" which has become the essence of Iraq. 2- Dominant parties that want to ensure their gains through the "Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkmens..." division" 3- Religious parties where competition has become about religious sects and not the political parties."

On the morning of his death, the slain historian also tweeted in rejection of the pro-Iranian narrative that "the fight against the US and the Gulf countries is about dignity and sovereignty and not about power and wealth."

Translation: "Illusioned people want to convince the poor of Iraq that the fight against the US and the Gulf countries is about dignity and sovereignty and not about power and wealth. Most small warlords have huge fortunes allocated via illegal means, while the big ones are so much like dictators who think they've inherited Iraq and that they own it."

However, an announcement posted on ISIS's "Amaaq News Agency" claiming responsibility for the attack, was disregarded by some of Al-Hashimi's friends, who revealed that he had already received multiple death threats from pro-Iran militias; especially after he voiced out his opposition of the Iranian-backed Kata'ib Hezbollah's involvement in politics in the country.

Friends of Al-Hashimi expressed their fear that pro-Iranian militias might be using ISIS name as a cover-up for such assassinations, in order for it to get rid of critical well-heard voices, especially as pro-Iran social media users launched the hashtag (#سلمت_يد_الكتايب: Thanks to Al-Kata'ib ) "thanking" Kata'ib Hezbollah minutes after Al-Hashimi was announced dead, saying that "the brave brigades work in silence."

Translation: "Doctor Hisham Al-Hashimi had told his friends that he had received death threats from Kata'ib Hezbollah in Iraq. Now, only hours after the crime, ISIS has claimed responsibility. Isn't it clear that the Iranian regime is the actual supporter of terrorism in the world? How many more crimes like this do we need so the world can actually take action?"

Translation: "He's more honorable than Iran, Khamenei, and Soleimani"