Kata'ib Hezbollah

Kata'ib Hezbollah
LeadersAbu Mahdi al-Muhandis X (2003–2020)
Ahmad al-Hamidawi
(2020–present)
SpokespersonJafar al-Hussaini
Dates of operationOctober 2003 – present
Country Iraq
Allegiance Iran (IRGC)
GroupSaraya al-Dafa al-Shaabi
Motives
HeadquartersBaghdad, Iraq
Active regionsBaghdad
Southern Iraq
Western Iraq
IdeologyShia Islamism
Khomeinism
Velayat-e Faqih
Anti-Americanism
Anti-Zionism
Anti-West
StatusActive
Size2,000 (2010; at most)
10,000 (June 2014)
Over 30,000 (December 2014 claim)
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
AlliesState allies

Non-state allies

OpponentsState opponents

Non-state opponents

Battles and wars
Designated as a terrorist group by United States
 United Arab Emirates
 Japan
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Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH; Arabic: كتائب حزب الله, lit.'Battalions of the Party of God'), also known as the Hezbollah Brigades, is an Iraqi Shia paramilitary group and a component of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), staffing the 45th, 46th, and 47th Brigades. It is considered the most powerful militia in Iraq. In spite of KH being a formal part of Iraq's security apparatus through its affiliation with the Popular Mobilization Forces, the Iraqi government has since 2020 actively undertaken steps to combat its influence, including by conducting raids against Kataib Hezbollah in order to disarm armed groups that refuse to be controlled by the state.

During the Iraq War (2003–11), the group fought against Coalition forces. It was active in the War in Iraq (2013–2017) and the Syrian Civil War. The group was commanded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis until he was killed in a US drone attack in 2020. Thereafter, Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi (Abu Fadak) became the new chief of staff of the PMF.

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.

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. Kata'ib Hezbollah has received extensive training, funding, logistic support, weapons, and intelligence from the IRGC's overseas military-intelligence service Quds Force.

Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) is officially listed as a terrorist organization by the governments of Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States.