OVERVIEW

‘Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq flag

‘Asa’ib Ahl al-Haqq (AAH) is an Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militant group that threatens US interests in Iraq and Syria. Formed in 2006, AAH has conducted thousands of attacks against the United States and its allies as it seeks to compel US and coalition forces to withdraw from Iraq. Unlike other Shia militant groups, AAH has increasingly engaged in nationalist political activity in Iraq, in addition to terrorism, since 2011.

AAH works extensively with Iran’s IRGC-QF and closely follows the direction of Iran’s Supreme Leader. Starting in 2011, AAH sent forces to Syria, under the IRGC-QF’s command, to defend the Asad regime during the Syrian civil war. Since the start of the Israel-HAMAS conflict in 2023, AAH has publicly advocated for, and probably participated in, attacks against US and allied interests.

OPERATING AREAS
Based primarily in Iraq; conducts operations in Iraq and Syria.

MEMBERS
5,000 to 10,000

TACTICS AND TARGETS
AAH has conducted explosively formed penetrator, IED, mortar, rocket, UAS, and kidnapping operations against US and allied forces as well as Iraqi political rivals. The group has assassinated Iraqi political opponents, killed civilian protesters, and organized mass protests against domestic and international political decisions that AAH sees as harmful to its own interests. After the Asad regime collapsed in December 2024, AAH evacuated its personnel from Syria, but it is still capable of launching UAS or rockets from Iraq into Syria. The IRGC-QF advises and helps fund, train, and equip AAH. AAH has also received training and weapons from Lebanese Hizballah.

TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
The US State Department designated AAH as a foreign terrorist organization in January 2020. The US Treasury Department designated AAH leaders and brothers Qays and Laith al-Khaz’ali as specially designated global terrorists in December 2019.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS