Kata'ib Hezbollah

Kata'ib Hezbollah
Kata'ib Hezbollah
	; Hezbollah Battalions logo (and flag) based on Hezbollah and IRGC logos
Leaders	Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis (Jamal al-Ibrahimi) †; (2003–2020); Ahmad al-Hamidawi; (2020–present);
Spokesperson	Jafar al-Hussaini
Dates of operation	October 2003 – present
Allegiance	Iran (IRGC)
Group(s)	Saraya al-Dafa al-Shaabi;
Active regions	Southern Iraq, Baghdad
Ideology	Shia Islam; Khomeinism; Velayat-e Faqih; Anti-Americanism; Anti-Zionism; Anti-West (alleged by the U.S.);
Size	2,000 (2010; at most); 10,000 (June 2014); Over 30,000 (December 2014 claim)
Part of	Popular Mobilization Forces; Islamic Resistance in Iraq
Allies	State allies Iran; Russia; North Korea; Syria; Non-state allies Hezbollah; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada; Badr Organization; Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba; Promised Day Brigade; Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas; Saraya Ansar al-Aqeeda; Liwa Ali al-Akbar; Peshmerga (against ISIS only); National Defence Forces; Al-Ashtar Brigades (claimed by Bahrain gov.);
Opponents	State opponents Saudi Arabia; Israel; Multi-National Force – Iraq United States; ; Non-state opponents Mojahedin-e Khalq; Free Syrian Army; Peshmerga (minor clashes); 1920 Revolution Brigades; Naqshbandi Army; Islamic State;
Battles and wars	Iraq War; War in Iraq (2013–2017) Salahuddin campaign; Lifting of the Siege of Amirli; Liberation of Jurf Al Sakhar; Dhuluiya offensive; Battle of Baiji (2014–2015); Second Battle of Tikrit; Syrian civil war Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya; Aleppo offensive (October–December 2015); Northern Aleppo offensive (February 2016); Palmyra offensive (March 2016); Syrian Desert campaign (May–July 2017); 2017 Abu Kamal offensive; Rif Dimashq offensive (February–April 2018); Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria (2023–present)
Designated as a terrorist group by	United States; United Arab Emirates; Japan

Kata'ib Hezbollah (Arabic: كتائب حزب الله, lit. 'Battalions of the Party of God') or the Hezbollah Brigades, is a radical Iraqi Shiite paramilitary group which is a part of the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), staffing the 45th, 46th, and 47th Brigades. During the Iraq War (2003–11), the group fought against Coalition forces. It has been active in the War in Iraq (2013–2017) and the Syrian civil war (2011–present). The group was commanded by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis until he was killed in a US drone attack in 2020. Thereafter, he was replaced by Abdul Aziz al-Muhammadawi (Abu Fadak), as the new leader of the PMF. KH 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 Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Kata'ib Hezbollah (KH) is officially listed as a terrorist organization by the governments of Japan, United Arab Emirates, and the United States. KH is an official part of Iraq's security apparatus.

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