Ashab al-Kahf | |
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أصحاب الکهف | |
Dates of operation | August 2019 – present |
Active regions | Iraq |
Ideology | Shia Islamism Anti-Americanism Anti-Zionism Anti-LGBT Anti-Anarchism Khomeinism |
Political position | Right-wing to Far-right |
Part of | Islamic Resistance in Iraq Axis of Resistance |
Allies | State allies
Non-state allies
|
Opponents | |
Battles and wars | 2019–2021 Persian Gulf crisis 2023 American–Middle East conflict |
Ashab al-Kahf (Arabic: أصحاب الکهف, lit. 'People of the Cave') is an Iraqi Shia extremist militant group that has been described as a proxy formation of Iran.[2] The group first emerged in August 2019, but increased in activity following the American assassination of Qasem Soleimani.[3] It has attacked targets associated with the United States using rockets and improvised explosive devices. The group has also attacked targets associated with Turkey. The group denies maintaining relationships with other Iranian-backed Shia paramilitary groups, such as Kata'ib Hezbollah and Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq.[4]