Key facts
- Iranian-backed Shi'ite armed groups in Iraq have grown in political and military power since 2003.
- These militias are part of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of approximately 10 factions.
- Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful faction, is known for its arsenal of drones, rockets, and ballistic missiles.
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais Al-Khazali, is another significant group with political aspirations.
- These groups have claimed responsibility for attacks on Israel and U.S. forces in the region.
Iranian-backed Shi'ite armed groups have become significant political and military forces in Iraq following the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, with Tehran providing substantial financial and military support. These militias, which collectively command approximately 50,000 fighters and possess advanced arsenals including long-range missiles, are deeply integrated into Iraq's political, economic, and social structures, holding seats in parliament and government and operating extensive business networks.
The Islamic Resistance in Iraq serves as an umbrella group for about 10 hardline Shi'ite factions. This resistance movement has claimed responsibility for numerous missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria since the Gaza war began in 2023. The Trump administration had previously exerted pressure on Iraqi leaders to curb the activities of these armed groups.
Among the most powerful factions is Kataib Hezbollah, founded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020 alongside Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani. Kataib Hezbollah, estimated to have up to 10,000 members, is known for its arsenal of drones, rockets, and short-range ballistic missiles. The group has a history of defiance against government calls to cease attacks on U.S. forces and was implicated in the 2023 abduction of Israeli Russian doctoral student Elizabeth Tsurkov.
Another key group is Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, led by Qais Al-Khazali. Al-Khazali, who rose to prominence after the U.S. invasion, formed his own group in 2006 after fighting with Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army. He has advocated for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and has been involved with Iraq's education ministry, while denying his militia's involvement in sectarian violence.