Who Are Chechen Fighters? Pro-Russian Units Offer To Back Iran Against US

Chechen military units are prepared to come to the aid of Iran if the United States launches a ground invasion, according to reports. The pro-Russian forces based in Chechnya, loyal to their Moscow-backed leader Ramzan Kadyrov and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said they would support Iranian armed forces in the ongoing US-Israel war, reported Iran's state-run Press TV.

This comes as US President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring more aggressive military options in Iran, including the possible deployment of ground troops.

Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), told state media on Tuesday that Iran's armed forces were ready to "cut off the legs" of any forces entering its territory.

Who Are Chechen Fighters?

Chechen fighters, often called the Kadyrovtsy, are paramilitary forces from Russia's North Caucasus. They are known for their strong loyalty to the Kremlin and have been deployed in several conflicts, including in Ukraine. Many of them are trained in combat and counterinsurgency operations.

In the past, Chechnya fought two major wars against Russia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. After the second war, Russia took control of the region and set up a pro-Moscow government led by the Kadyrov family.

Kadyrovites have long been accused of major crimes, including illegal killings, kidnappings, and torture of people who oppose or criticise Ramzan Kadyrov. They have also been accused of targeting religious hardliners and LGBTQ people in Chechnya.

In January, Kadyrov loyalists allegedly kidnapped a woman, the mother of a judge, who had criticised the leader and was forcibly taken from the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod to Chechnya, according to Al Jazeera.

Russia And Iran Military Ties

Russia and Iran have long maintained close military ties. Recently, there were reports that Russia was helping Iran with intelligence, including sharing sensitive information such as the location of enemy forces or military targets. 

Some reports even claimed this information could help Iran track US ships or aircraft in the region. Russia has strongly denied these claims.

US To Deploy Ground Troops?

Chris Murphy, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has warned that hundreds of American soldiers could be killed if the Trump administration even attempts a limited ground invasion of Iran.

"This is already a war that is becoming an ongoing disaster. It gets worse if the president is talking about putting ground forces in. You're talking at that point about dozens, if not hundreds, of new American casualties," he said.