2011 raid on Camp Ashraf
[1] The PMOI was welcomed into Iraq in the 1980s by then-President Saddam Hussein who funded and armed the group, which fought alongside Iraqi forces during the Iran–Iraq War.[4] In 2009, the U.S. military handed over control to the Shi'a-dominated Iraqi government, which repeatedly vowed to close the camp as then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had reportedly been trying to bolster his country's ties with Iran.[5] Prior to the raid, tensions had been building between the Iraq army and Ashraf residents, who feared an impending attack as soldiers built up their forces outside the camp.The Iraqi general, Ali Ghaidan Majid, who led the raid, stated it was in response to Ashraf residents tossing rocks at his troops and throwing themselves in front of military vehicles.[4] Following the raid, which left 34 dead, the PMOI released footage filmed and edited by members of the group, which show Iraqi soldiers firing at unarmed civilians at Camp Ashraf, and using military vehicles to herd and run down crowds of people.