Members of the Mahdi Army appear to be using motorcycle combat techniques similar to those developed by the Iranian military. If true, this would be further evidence that Iran is helping to equip and train Shia militias inside Iraq.
The above photo was taken at the 2008 Military Day Parade in Tehran and shows a motorcycle-mounted Iranian combat team. The use of motorcycles for rapid strikes was perfected during the Iran-Iraq war.
By combining the maneuverability and speed of a bike with the firepower of an RPG-7 rocket propelled grenade, the Iranian military has created a low-cost, flexible strike unit capable of attacking armored vehicles, buildings, soldiers or even helicopters and then quickly fleeing. What the unit lacks in armor it makes up for with speed, size and the ability to travel over varied terrain or through areas in which larger purpose-made vehicles can’t follow. By using a form of transportation common among the local population, it’s also able to blend in to civilian traffic. In short, motorcycles and RPGs are the perfect combination for conducting an insurgency and a further illustration, if any was needed, of the difficulties an invading army faces in controlling a local population dead set against occupation.
via Uskowi on Iran