Kata'ib Hezbollah

For other uses of "Hezbollah", see Hezbollah (disambiguation).

Kata'ib Hezbollah
LeadersAbu Mahdi al-Muhandis (Jamal al-Ibrahimi) †[1][2]
(2003–2020)
Ahmad al-Hamidawi
(2020–present)
SpokespersonJafar al-Hussaini[3]
Dates of operationOctober 2003 – present
Allegiance Iraq
 Iran (IRGC)[citation needed] (alleged)
Group(s)Saraya al-Dafa al-Shaabi
Active regionsSouthern Iraq, Baghdad
IdeologyShia Islamism
Khomeinism
Anti-Sunnism[4][5]
Velayat-e Faqih
Anti-Americanism[6]
Anti-Zionism
Anti-West[7]
Size2,000 (2010; at most)[8]
10,000 (June 2014)
Over 30,000 (December 2014 claim)[9]
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
AlliesState allies

Non-state allies

OpponentsState opponents

Non-state opponents

Battles and warsIraq War

War in Iraq (2013–2017)

Syrian civil war

Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria (2023–present)
Designated as a terrorist group by United States[36]
 United Arab Emirates[37]
 Japan[38]
Preceded by
Special Groups

Kata'ib Hezbollah (Arabic: كتائب حزب الله, lit. 'Battalions of the Party of God'),[39] also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, is a radical Iraqi Shiite paramilitary group which is a part of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), staffing the 45th, 46th, and 47th Brigades.[40] During the Iraq War (2003–11), the group fought against Coalition forces.[39][41] It has been active in the War in Iraq (2013–2017)[42] and the Syrian Civil War.[43] The group was commanded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis[44] until he was killed in a US drone attack in 2020.[45] Thereafter, Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi (Abu Fadak) became the new leader of the PMF.[46] The group seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq, expel American forces from the country, and advance the regional and international interests of Iran in Iraq and the region.[citation needed] The group is responsible for killing hundreds of U.S. soldiers and takes a central part in carrying out attacks against U.S. targets in Iraq and acts as part of the Axis of Resistance.[47][48] Kata'ib Hezbollah has received extensive training, funding, logistic support, weapons, and intelligence from the IRGC's elite Quds Force.[49]

Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) is officially listed as a terrorist organization by the governments of Japan,[38] United Arab Emirates, and the United States. KH is an official part of Iraq's security apparatus.[49]

  1. ^ "The Evolution of Iran's Special Groups in Iraq". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Archived from the original on 16 February 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. ^ Yuhas, Alan (3 January 2020). "Airstrike That Killed Suleimani Also Killed Powerful Iraqi Militia Leader". The New York Times.
  3. ^ "Iran-backed Iraqi militias step up threat of violence against US forces in Iraq". Middle East Institute.
  4. ^ "Kata'ib Hezbollah". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  5. ^ Hummel, Kristina (22 October 2020). "Back into the Shadows? The Future of Kata'ib Hezbollah and Iran's Other Proxies in Iraq". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
  6. ^ "Iran-backed groups urge complete US withdrawal from Iraq". The National. 6 February 2018.
  7. ^ "Part 2: Pro-Iran Militias in Iraq". Wilson Center. 27 April 2018.
  8. ^ Group Profile Kata'ib Hezbollah (page 7) Archived 3 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine, 5 March 2010
  9. ^ Ryan, Missy; Morris, Loveday (27 December 2014). "The U.S. and Iran are aligned in Iraq against the Islamic State – for now". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  10. ^ Leith Fadel (19 October 2015). "Two Brigades of Kata'eb Hezbollah Arrive in Aleppo Amid the Presence of General Suleimani". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  11. ^ "News Article". css.ethz.ch.
  12. ^ a b c "FSI | CISAC | MAPPINGMILITANTS CISAC – MMP: Kata'ib Hezbollah". cisac.fsi.stanford.edu.
  13. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2016. Retrieved 16 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. ^ "لواءُ عليٍّ الأكبرِ يعلنُ تحريرَ ثلاثةِ مواقعَ مهمّةٍ بقضاءِ بلدٍ فيْ صلاحِ الدّينِ". العتبة الحسينية المقدسة.
  15. ^ "US aided Hezbollah Brigades in breaking Islamic State siege of Iraqi town". Long War Journal. 10 September 2014.
  16. ^ "Syrian government, Iraqi reinforcements reach southeast Damascus for upcoming offensive". 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  17. ^ "'سرايا الأشتر'.. تنظيم شيعي مسلح يهدد البحرين". بوابة الحركات الاسلامية.
  18. ^ "New Options for Iraq's Axis of Resistance Players (Part 2): Opening the Jordan Front | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  19. ^ Iraq after America: Strongmen, Sectarians, Resistance. P. 279
  20. ^ "Iran Is Using The Same Dangerously Effective Strategy in Iraq As It Used in Syria". Business Insider.
  21. ^ Publisher, Al-Maalomah. "كتائب حزب الله تُفشل خطط البيشمركة وتمنع اعتداءاتها وتصد تقدمها باتجاه الحشد في الطوز – وكالة المعلومة". almaalomah.com. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  22. ^ "Kata'ib Hezbollah | Mapping Militant Organizations". web.stanford.edu.
  23. ^ "US aided Hezbollah Brigades in breaking ISIL siege of Iraqi town". Long War Journal. 10 September 2014.
  24. ^ a b Roggio, Bill (10 September 2014). "US aided Hezbollah Brigades in breaking Islamic State siege of Iraqi town". Long War Journal. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  25. ^ Morris, Loveday (29 October 2014). "Iraq's victory over militants in Sunni town underlines challenges government faces". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  26. ^ Loveday Morris in Thuluyah for the Washington Post (23 September 2014). "The Iraqi town where former foes are combining to fight Islamic State". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  27. ^ Roggio, Bill; Weiss, Caleb (19 October 2015). "Iraqi Army, Shiite militias report success in Baiji". Long War Journal. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  28. ^ "Kataib Hezbollah to announce the full control of Baiji in a few hours". 19 June 2015.
  29. ^ Alice Fordham (7 April 2015). "After Retaking Iraqi City, Shiite Militias Accused of Targeting Sunnis : Parallels". NPR. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  30. ^ Alessandria Masi (15 February 2015). "Islamic State: Iraq Battle Against ISIS For Tikrit Led By Iran-Backed Shiite Militia Forces". International Business Times. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  31. ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (17 November 2018). "Kata'ib Hezbollah's Syrian Wing: Interview". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi.
  32. ^ Leith Fadel (19 October 2015). "Two Brigades of Kata'eb Hezbollah Arrive in Aleppo Amid the Presence of General Suleimani". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  33. ^ Leith Fadel (1 February 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah launch preliminary offensive in northern Aleppo". Al-Masdar News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  34. ^ "Breaking: Syrian Army, Hezbollah liberate Al-Amariyah in northern Palmyra". 26 March 2016. Archived from the original on 1 January 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  35. ^ Aboufadel, Leith (15 May 2017). "Syrian government, Iraqi reinforcements reach southeast Damascus for upcoming offensive". Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  36. ^ "Foreign Terrorist Organizations". U.S. Department of State.
  37. ^ "مجلس الوزراء يعتمد قائمة التنظيمات الإرهابية. – WAM". 17 November 2014. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014.
  38. ^ a b "カタイブ・ヒズボラ（KH） | 国際テロリズム要覧（Web版） | 公安調査庁". 2 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 March 2019.
  39. ^ a b John Pike. "Kata'ib Hizballah (KH) (Battalions of the Party of God)". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  40. ^ "Hashd Brigade Numbers Index". aymennjawad.org. 31 October 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2017.
  41. ^ Daniel Cassman. "Kata'ib Hezbollah | Mapping Militant Organizations". Web.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  42. ^ Cite error: The named reference amerli was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  43. ^ al-Salhy, Suadad (10 April 2013). "Iraqi Shi'ite militants start to acknowledge role in Syria". Reuters. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  44. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak (12 November 2014). "Special Report: The fighters of Iraq who answer to Iran". Reuters.
  45. ^ Hassan, Falih; Rubin, Alissa J.; Crowley, Michael (2 January 2020). "Iraqi TV Reports Strike Kills Powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Commander". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  46. ^ "Meet 'the uncle' Abu Fadak, the new head of Iran-backed PMU militias in Iraq". Al Arabiya. 21 February 2020.
  47. ^ "Kata'ib Hezbollah: A Dominant Iraqi Pro-Iranian Militia". The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 2 January 2023.
  48. ^ Roggio, Bill (1 November 2023). "PROFILES OF 15 IRANIAN-BACKED MILITIAS IN THE MIDDLE EAST". Long War Journal.
  49. ^ a b "National Counterterrorism Center | FTOs". www.dni.gov. Retrieved 31 January 2024.