View source for Nineveh Plain Protection Units

{{short description|Assyrian militia in Iraq}}
{{distinguish|Nineveh Plain Forces}}
{{Infobox War Faction
| name             = Nineveh Plain Protection Units
| native_name      = ܚܕܝ̈ܘܬ ܣܬܪܐ ܕܫܛܚܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ
| war              = 
| image            = [[File:Emblem of the Nineveh Plain Protection Units.svg|200px]]
| caption          = Emblem of the NPU.
| active           = December 2014 – present
| partof           = {{tree list}}
* [[File:Flag of Iraq.svg|23px]] [[Iraqi Armed Forces]]
** Nineveh Operations Command<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.ninevehplaindefensefund.org/about-npu/ | title=About the NPU }}</ref>
{{tree list/end}}
| allegiance       = {{flagicon image|Flag_of_Zowaa.png}} [[Assyrian Democratic Movement]]<ref name=Newsweek2015 />
| size             = 600 active (2020)<ref name=Contested>{{cite work|url=https://50f3ad00-5b28-4016-898f-6130d301c97a.filesusr.com/ugd/6ae567_98f8f8912baa40949a18a3a0b717eaea.pdf|title=Contested Control: The Future of Security in Iraq's Nineveh Plain|date=June 1, 2020|publisher=[[Assyrian Policy Institute]]|page=34}}</ref>
| area             = [[Nineveh Plains]]<br>Northern [[Iraq]]
| leaders          = [[Behnam Abush]]<ref>[https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/bitstream/handle/10919/96147/Kruczek_GJ_D_2019.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1 Benham Abush, a former general in the Iraqi army and the NPU’s first commanding officer]</ref>
| colors           = 
| flag             = [[File:Flag of the Assyrians (no Assur).svg|border|200px]]
| colors_label     = 
| opponents        = {{tree list}}
* {{Flagdeco|Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant}} [[Islamic State]]
* [[Popular Mobilization Forces]] 
** [[File:Chaldean flag.svg|Chaldean_flag]|border|25px]] [[Babylon Movement|Babylon Brigade]]
{{tree list/end}}
| battles          = {{tree list}}
* [[War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
** [[Battle of Mosul (2016)|Battle of Mosul]]
** [[Shirqat offensive (2016)|Shirqat offensive]]
{{tree list/end}}
| headquarters     = 
| status           = Active
}}

The '''Nineveh Plain Protection Units''' ({{langx|syc|ܚܕܝ̈ܘܬ ܣܬܪܐ ܕܫܛܚܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ}} {{transl|syc|''Ḥḏāywāṯ Settārā da-Šṭāḥā d-Nīnwē''}}; {{langx|ar|وحدات حماية سهل نينوى}}) or '''NPU''' is an [[Assyrian people|Assyrian]] paramilitary organization that was formed in late 2014, largely but not exclusively by Assyrians in Iraq to defend themselves against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant]] (ISIL).<ref name="aleteia">John Burger for Aletia. December 4, 2014 [http://www.aleteia.org/en/world/article/christians-in-iraq-forming-militia-to-defend-and-possibly-retake-ancestral-lands-5337839336161280 Christians in Iraq Forming Militia to Defend, and Possibly Retake, Ancestral Lands]</ref> The [[Nineveh Plains]] is a region where [[Assyrian people|Assyrians]] originate from and have lived there for thousands of years.<ref name=UN&WR2015>Steven Nelson for ''U.S. News & World Report''. Feb. 6, 2015 [https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/02/06/iraqi-christians-form-anti-isis-militia-and-you-can-legally-fund-them Iraqi Assyrian Christians Form Anti-ISIS Militia, and You Can Legally Chip In]</ref>

==Statistics==
By December 2014, the group said it had between 500 and 1,000 men in training and that the US was helping train them, and that financial support was coming mostly from the Assyrian diaspora in the US and Europe.<ref name="aleteia" /><ref name=UN&WR2015 /> In February 2015, there were unverified reports that the group had 5,000 Assyrian men registered to be trained, 500 are already training for combat, and 500 volunteers from the group stationed in threatened towns.<ref name=Newsweek2015>Jack Moore for ''Newsweek''. Feb 4, 2015 [http://www.newsweek.com/4000-strong-christian-militia-formed-fight-isis-northern-iraq-304371 4000 Strong NPU Assyrian Soldiers]</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Nour Malas |website=Wall Street Journal|date= February 3, 2015 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/iraqs-christians-take-up-arms-to-fight-islamic-state-1423017266 |title=The Assyrian Christians Take Up Arms To Fight ISIS}}</ref>

The [[Assyrian Policy Institute]] reported in 2020 that the NPU had 2,000 men registered to be trained awaiting approval and funding from the [[Federal government of Iraq]] and that they had 600 active soldiers deployed and running the security in towns such as [[Bakhdida]], [[Karamlesh]], partly in [[Bartella]] and the ancient city of [[Nimrud]].<ref name=Contested/>

A 2019 testimony from Assyrian activist [[Assyrian Policy Institute|Reine Hanna]] at the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] claimed that the rate of Assyrian return in towns guarded by the NPU was significantly higher than those controlled by other forces following the end of the Islamic State's occupation of the Nineveh Plain. The NPU-guarded Assyrian town of [[Bakhdida]], for example, saw a 70% return of the town's original Assyrian population (about 35,000 Assyrians). In [[Tesqopa]], which is controlled by KRG Peshmerga, the rate of return is about 20% of the original Assyrian population. In [[Tel Keppe]], which is controlled by [[Babylon Movement|Brigade 50]], the return rate of the original Assyrian population is about 7%.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Reine%20Hanna-%20Assyrian%20Policy%20Institute.pdf | title = Testimony for the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Religious Minorities' Fight to Remain in Iraq | last = Hanna | first = Reine| date = September 26, 2019 | website =  United States Commission on International Religious Freedom| access-date = July 23, 2020}}</ref>

==Activities==
 
In May 2016, NPU participated in fighting at [[Tesqopa]] along with [[Peshmerga]] forces in order to capture the town from [[ISIS]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Video purportedly shows battle in which Navy SEAL was killed|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/video-purportedly-shows-battle-in-which-navy-seal-was-killed|publisher=Fox News|date=5 May 2016}}</ref>

In September 2016, NPU soldiers repelled an ISIL effort to retake Tesqopa.<ref>{{cite news|title=Assyrian Christian forces clear Islamic State from village in northern Iraq|url=http://iraqichristianrelief.org/assyrian-christian-forces-clear-islamic-state-village-northern-iraq/|publisher=Iraqi Christian Relief Council|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=February 15, 2017|archive-date=February 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216131132/http://iraqichristianrelief.org/assyrian-christian-forces-clear-islamic-state-village-northern-iraq/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Also in September 2016, NPU liberated the [[Shabak people|Shabak]] village of Badanah from ISIL, with the support of international coalition airstrikes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fadel|first1=Leith|title=Assyrians fight back in Iraq, Badanah village liberated from ISIS|url=https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/assyrians-fight-back-iraq-badanah-village-liberated-isis/|work=AMN - Al-Masdar News|date=3 September 2016|quote=Joining the Iraqi Army in their fight to liberate the historical city of Mosul, the Nineveh Protection Units have proven to be a formidable force against the Islamic State terrorists.|access-date=4 February 2017|archive-date=18 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718002956/https://mobile.almasdarnews.com/article/assyrians-fight-back-iraq-badanah-village-liberated-isis/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Fighting fire with fire|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/september-16th-2016/fighting-fire-with-fire/|work=Catholic Herald|date=15 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Christian militia claim victory over ISIS in Iraqi village|url=http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2016/09/05/christian-militia-claim-victory-over-isis-in-iraqi-village/|work=Catholic Herald|date=5 September 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shiloach|first1=Gilad|title=Iraqi Christian Militia Claims ISIS Victory With Coalition Help|url=http://www.vocativ.com/356105/iraqi-christian-militia-claims-isis-victory-with-coalition-help/|publisher=Vocativ|date=2 September 2016|quote=...it had help from the air and the U.S.-led international coalition....they were being supported by the Iraqi Government and the Kurdish Peshmerga security forces}}</ref>

In October 2016, NPU, alongside [[Iraqi Army]] forces liberated the Town of [[Bartella]] from ISIL.<ref>{{cite news|title=Video: Iraqi troops liberate Christian town of Bartella from IS group |url=http://m.france24.com/en/20161023-video-iraqi-troops-liberate-christian-town-bartella|publisher=France 24|date=23 October 2016}}</ref>

On the 19th of October, 2016, NPU and the Iraqi Army liberated the Town of [[Bakhdida]] from ISIL. They currently run the security profile of the town and protected the town during its first Christmas mass in two years.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efe.com/efe/english/world/iraqi-christians-in-qaraqosh-ready-to-fight-back-against-islamic-state/50000262-3326808|date=15 July 2017|title=Iraqi Christians in Qaraqosh ready to fight back against Islamic State
|website=[[Agencia EFE|EFE]]}}</ref>

In December 2016 Jameel al-Jameel, a member of the Nineveh Plains Protection Units claimed that Kurdish soldiers at checkpoints were interrogating and preventing Assyrian NPU soldiers and civilians seeking to enter the [[Nineveh Plain]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kurdish Authorities Preventing Assyrian Soldiers From Returning to Their Posts|url=http://aina.org/news/20161206015830.htm|publisher=AINA|date=December 6, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=KRG prevents NPU soldiers from returning back to the Nineveh Plains |url=http://www.assyriatv.org/2016/12/krg-prevents-npu-soldiers-returning-back-nineveh-plains/|publisher=Assyria TV|date=5 December 2016|language=sv-SE}}</ref>

In July 2017, NPU was involved in clashes with the Babylon Brigades, led by Rayan al-Kildani. Two days prior to the incident, NPU captured 6 members of the Babylon Brigades on allegations of stealing ancient artefacts from [[Mar Behnam Monastery]].<ref>{{cite tweet|user=NinevehPU |number=886313852383760385 |author=NPU |date=15 July 2017 |title=Clarification on recent clashes in the town of Baghdeda:}}</ref> Babylon Brigades have since been expelled by the Iraqi Prime Minister Office & PMU High Command from all of Hamdaniya District.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=NinevehPU |number=886377223028080640 |author=NPU |date=15 July 2017 |title=Iraqi Prime Minister Office & PMU High Command ordered the expulsion of Babylon Brigade from all of Hamdaniya District.}}</ref> NPU has taken control of Mar Behnam Monastery.

In December 2018, the Iraqi Government provided funding to the NPU to recruit another 100 troops.

==Security==
The Nineveh Plains Protection Units currently run the security in all major towns in the [[Al-Hamdaniya District]] ([[Bakhdida]] and [[Karamlesh]]), while in [[Bartella]] the security is contested by PMF Brigade 30 or known as the [[Shabak Militia]] with the support of the [[Badr Organization]] leaving the NPU outnumbered. {{As of|2020}}, Nimrud was also under the control of the Nineveh Plains Protection Units.<ref name=Contested/>

==See also==
* [[List of armed groups in the Iraqi Civil War]]
* [[Assyrian Democratic Movement]]
* [[Nineveh Plain Forces]]
* [[Qaraqosh Protection Committee|Nineveh Plains Security Forces]]
* [[Dwekh Nawsha]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Nineveh plains}}
{{Assyrian Democratic Movement}}
{{Armed Iraqi groups in the Iraq War and the Iraq Civil War}}

[[Category:2014 establishments in Iraq]]
[[Category:Anti-ISIL factions in Iraq]]
[[Category:Assyrian organizations]]
[[Category:War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
[[Category:21st century in Nineveh Governorate]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 2014]]
[[Category:Military wings of political parties]]
[[Category:Paramilitary forces of Iraq]]