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Militia Spotlight: Profiles

The objective of this series is to provide journalists and government analysts with concise, clear profiles for each of the major Iraqi militia entities discussed in Militia Spotlight research alerts. Each profile provides basic data (name, logo, and type of activity) and summarizes the best available evidence concerning the entity’s history, alignment, and relationships with other groups. The profiles are regularly updated.

Visit the Militia Spotlight alerts hub.

Articles in this Series

Muhandis company launch event leadership attendeees
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
How to Use Militia Spotlight: Profiles
The profiles are a repository of institutional memory on the various armed groups, facade groups, and social organizations associated with Iraqi militias, to be used as concise reminders of how these entities are connected.
Mar 24, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Iraqi Basij logo
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Iraqi Basij
Formed by Ashab al-Kahf and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, this Persian-named violent protest movement has been used to carry out threats against the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
Jul 20, 2023
◆
  • Amir al-Kaabi
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
PMF logo on a Muhandis General Company combine harvester
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: The Muhandis General Company
By establishing this Iraqi version of an Iranian IRGC conglomerate, militias aim to quickly dominate the country's growing economy.
May 17, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
CMC March 16, 2023 draft regulation of digits; media content in Iraq
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Iraqi CMC Draft Regulation on Digital Content in Iraq
English translation of the March 16, 2023, draft regulation on digital content by the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission.
May 15, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
CMC van
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Communications and Media Commission
After falling under the control of “resistance”-linked board members, this key Iraqi media institution began a widespread crackdown on freedom of expression.
May 15, 2023
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
LG
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Liwa al-Ghaliboun (Brigade of the Victors)
Liwa al-Ghaliboun is an Iraqi cell that is directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force and has undertaken proxy attacks on U.S. personnel in Syria.
Apr 3, 2023
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Rayan al-Kildani and Muhandis
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Kataib Babiliyoun (50th PMF Brigade)
Kataib Babiliyoun pretends to be a local Christian unit, but its members have been recruited from Shia Muslim communities in southern Iraq with the goal of dominating Iraq's strategic Nineveh Plains region.
Mar 16, 2023
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Yaqoub Beth-Addai
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Nujaba Warethun
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Al-Warithuun
Al-Warithuun is a "resistance" brand with a recurring connection to kinetic operations that are directed by Iran's Qods Force but intended to be deniable.
Sep 13, 2022
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Taees
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Kataib Aimmat al-Baqi
A Diyala-based militia that offered its services to Nouri al-Maliki on a leaked audiotape from July 2022.
Aug 15, 2022
◆
  • May Riad
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Ahrar al-Iraq 2
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Liwa Ahrar al-Iraq
This facade group is used to brand militia rocket and drone attacks on Turkish targets in Iraq.
Jul 29, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Eric Feely
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Brigade 30
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Hashd al-Shabak (30th PMF Brigade)
This local auxiliary unit plays an important role in consolidating Iranian and proxy influence in Iraq's strategic Nineveh Plains region.
Jun 22, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Ahrar Sinjar
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Ahrar Sinjar
This facade group is used to brand "resistance" attacks on Turkish targets and purportedly link the strikes to Yezidi grievances toward Turkey.
Jun 8, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Michael Knights
  • Alex Almeida
  • Anwar al-Zamani
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Shaajab News logo
Maps & Graphics
Profile: Shaajab News
Shajaab News used a moment of disruption at Sabereen News to establish itself as a Sabereen-wannabe and amplifier of that channel's content and style.
May 18, 2022
◆
  • May Riad
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
LK profile
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Liwa Khaybar
With probable links to Kataib Hezbollah, this minor facade group claimed a major rocket attack on al-Asad Air Base, but mainly limits itself to claimed bombings against U.S. supply convoys.
Feb 15, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Ahd TV content
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Al-Ahd Satellite Television
A closer look at the "resistance" television channel owned and operated by U.S.-designated terrorist movement Asaib Ahl al-Haq.
Feb 9, 2022
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Badr Troops
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Badr Organization
Badr is the wellspring of many of today's armed resistance groups and still operates under the indirect and sometimes direct control of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Sep 2, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
  • Crispin Smith
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Iraqi Radio and Television Union
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: The Iraqi Radio and Television Union
An overview of Iraq's offshoot of the Islamic Radio and Television Union, an Iranian umbrella group that provides support to "resistance" media outlets.
Sep 2, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Etejah
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Al-Etejah Satellite Television
A closer look at the "resistance" television channel owned and operated by U.S.-designated terrorist movement Kataib Hezbollah.
Aug 1, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
NT
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Al-Nujaba Satellite Television
A U.S.-sanctioned "resistance" channel owned and operated by U.S.-designated terrorist movement Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba.
Jul 22, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Liwa Thar al-Muhandis
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Liwa Thar Muhandis
This older facade brand has been brought out of retirement during the summer surge of Iraqi militia attacks on U.S. targets.
Jul 8, 2021
◆
  • Crispin Smith
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
AA
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Ahd Allah Islamic Movement
Ahd Allah Islamic Movement is a social and cultural movement built around Kataib Hezbollah ideologue Sayyed Hashem al-Haidari.
May 5, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
KSS flag
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada
Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada is a splinter of Kataib Hezbollah that works directly with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has a transnational focus on the shared regional agenda of the Iran-backed axis of resistance.
May 3, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
TSS
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Sharia Youth Gathering
The Sharia Youth Gathering is an umbrella movement of social service, cultural, sports, and scouting organizations that is effectively controlled by Kataib Hezbollah through a cadre of linked commanders.
Apr 29, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Scout
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Imam Hussein Scout Association
The Imam Hussein Scout Association is Kataib Hezbollah’s youth organization and an affiliate of Lebanese Hezbollah's Kishaf al-Imam al-Mahdi youth movement.
Apr 29, 2021
◆
  • Hamdi Malik
  • Crispin Smith
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles
Kaabi speech
Maps & Graphics
Brief Analysis
Profile: Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba proved its axis of resistance credentials in Syria, but its role in terrorism and repression within Iraq is more enigmatic.
Apr 27, 2021
◆
  • Michael Knights
◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

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