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Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba

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12th Brigade
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
Arabic: حركة حزب الله النجباء
LeadersAkram al-Kaabi[1]
SpokespersonNasr al-Shammari[2]
Dates of operation2013–present
Allegiance Iran (IRGC)[3]
 Iraq (2014–present)[4]
Group(s)See section
Active regionsIraq
Gaza Strip (charity work)[5]
Syrian Civil War
Aleppo
East Ghouta, Damascus[6]
Latakia[7]
Al-Ghab Plain, Hama[8]
IdeologyShia Islamism
Vilayat-e Faqih[9]
Khomeinism[10]
Anti-West[11]
Anti-Zionism
Anti-Americanism
Size8,000-10,000 (2017)
Part of Popular Mobilization Forces[9][12]
Islamic Resistance in Iraq
4th Armoured Division (in Syria)[13]
AlliesState allies

Non-state allies

OpponentsState opponents
Non-state opponents
Battles and warsIraqi insurgency (2003–11) (as Asaib Ahl al-Haq)

War in Iraq (2014–2017)

Attacks on U.S. bases in Iraq, Jordan, and Syria
Designated as a terrorist group by United States[31]
WebsiteOfficial website
Preceded by
Asaib Ahl al-Haq

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (The Nujaba Movement or HHN; Arabic: حركة حزب الله النجباء, romanized: Ḥaraka Ḥizballāh an-Nujabā’, lit. 'Movement of the Party of God's Nobles'), officially the 12th Brigade, is a radical Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitary group that is especially active in Syria and Iraq. It was established in 2013 by Akram al-Kaabi to support Bashar al-Assad in Syria against Islamist rebels. The group is supported by the IRGC's Quds Force, which provides the funding, weapons, and training of its members.[32]

The militia is also supported by the Lebanese Hezbollah and acts as part of the Axis of Resistance. It is a part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a group of Shi’ite militias that are close to Iran, until 2020 when it joined the Islamic Resistance in Iraq.[33] The Nujaba Movement adopts the ideology of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and regards Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei as its supreme leader.[32] A January 2024 report in The Hill indicates that it is still part of the PMF.[34] The group seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq, expel U.S. and allied forces from the country, and advance Iranian interests throughout the Middle East.

HHN militia fighters in Iraq are deployed mainly in southern Iraq and in the provinces of Baghdad, Salah ad Din, Diyala, and Nineveh. The militia fighters in Syria are deployed mainly in the provinces of Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa, where they have established positions, headquarters, training camps, and recruitment offices to recruit Syrian residents.[35]

HHN has a TV channel named Al-Nujaba TV, which is based in Baghdad, Iraq.[36]

In March 2019, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo designated Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (and all its aliases and component parts) and its leader Akram al-Kaabi Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).[37][38] The sanctions prohibits business with the militia and its leader and freezes all property in their possession.[39]

Flags

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Flags of Harakat al-Nujaba

History

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HHN emerged in 2013 as an offshoot of the Iraqi paramilitary Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) and is led by AAH co-founder Akram al-Kaabi. al-Kaabi said that he formed the militia after a period of inactivity in the Syrian Civil War. He denies it emerged from a "split" with AAH, but that he chose not to unify with them due to disagreements.[9]

The two groups still share close affinity, often simultaneously commemorating martyrs.[42] They have released a nasheed praising Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani.[1] Both groups follow the Iranian government's ideology, and al-Kaabi has stated that he would overthrow the Iraqi government or fight alongside the Yemeni Houthis if ordered by Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.[12]

HHN was one of the first Iraqi paramilitaries to send fighters to Syria, where it has been active since its formation in 2013. It has had an increasing role in Syria after a significant boost to recruitment efforts took place in 2015.[42] It was a major participant in the 2015 South Aleppo offensive[43] and the breaking of the siege of the Shia towns Nubl and Zahraa.[44]

In December 2014, ABNA.ir published photos of Iranian-built Yasir UAV (an unlicensed copy of the American ScanEagle) claimed in use with HHN.[45]

In April 2015, al-Kaabi said HHN had suffered 126 casualties, including 38 in Syria.[1]

On 1 January 2019, al-Kaabi said that the IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah helped the militia Shi'ite forces of the Mahdi Army that were fighting the U.S. forces in 2004. He said that in the 2004 Battle of Najaf, IRGC and Hezbollah officers were present on the ground and helped during the battle, in which 13 US servicemen were killed and over 100 wounded.[46]

In November 2023, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq launched missiles on various Israel targets, including in the Red Sea city of Eilat.[47]

On 3 December 2023, five members of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba were killed in U.S. airstrikes near Kirkuk as they were preparing to launch a drone against American forces.[48][49]

On 4 January 2024, a targeted drone strike by the U.S. military in Baghdad killed the region's deputy commander of operations, Mushtaq Talib Al-Saeedi, or Abu Taqwa. Other casualties sustained included 3 additional individuals and 6 wounded.[50][51]

Divisions

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HHN comprises four brigades:[52][53]

  • Liwa Ammar Ibn Yasir (Ammar Ibn Yasir Brigade; designated as terrorist by UAE)[54]
  • Liwa al-Hamd (Praise Brigade)
  • Liwa al-Imam al-Hassan al-Mujtaba (Brigade of Imam Hassan the Chosen)
  • Golan Liberation Brigade[55]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (28 April 2015). "Interview with the leader of Harakat al-Nujaba: Translation and Analysis". Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  2. ^ "Spokesman For Iran-Backed Iraqi Shi'ite Militia In Syria: 'We Have Established The Golan Liberation Army'". MEMRI. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  3. ^ "Harakat Hezbollah alNujaba (The Movement of the Noble of Hezbollah)" (PDF). fdd.org. November 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 July 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  4. ^ "خلاطي: حركة النجباء جزء من مؤسسة الحشد الشعبي الرسمية". حركة النجباء. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ "The Nujaba Movement, an Iraqi Shiite militia handled by Iran, also operates in the Gaza Strip". 25 May 2020. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2021.
  6. ^ قناة النجباء الفضائية (10 October 2015). "عمليات حركة النجباء في سوريا - الغوطة الشرقية". Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2016 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ Stahlgewitter Syrien 2 (11 November 2015). "Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba: Operation in Latakia (2015)". Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2016 – via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ قناة النجباء الفضائية (1 September 2015). "المقاومة الاسلامية حركة النجباء معارك تحرير سهل الغاب / سوريا". Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2016 – via YouTube.
  9. ^ a b c "Iraq's Shiite forces claim victory over IS". Al-Monitor. 16 March 2015. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  10. ^ "Assad Rex? Assessing the autonomy of Syrian armed groups fighting for the regime" (PDF). Clingendael. September 2017. p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 August 2018. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
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  13. ^ a b Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (5 September 2018). "Harakat al-Nujaba': Interview". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Archived from the original on 13 May 2019. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
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  35. ^ "The Nujaba Movement – the Movement of the Noble Ones: One of the dominant pro-Iranian militias in Iraq". The Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. 14 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  36. ^ Dehghanpisheh, Babak. "The Iraqi militia helping Iran carve a road to Damascus". Reuters. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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  38. ^ "US sanctions Iranian militia in Iraq: here's what you need to know about Harakat Hezbollah Al Nujaba". The National. 6 March 2019. Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
  39. ^ "Designation of Harakat al-Nujaba, aka Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, aka Movement of the Noble Ones Hezbollah, aka The Movement of the Noble Ones, aka Golan Liberation Brigade, aka Ammar ibn Yasir Brigade, aka Imam al-Hasan al-Mujtaba Brigade, aka al-Hamad Brigade, aka al-Nujaba TV as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist". Federal Register. 15 March 2019. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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  44. ^ Fadel, Leith (1 February 2016). "Syrian Army, Hezbollah launch preliminary offensive in northern Aleppo". Archived from the original on 31 August 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  45. ^ "Iran's ScanEagle Clone – New Photos". Drone-RSS.com. Archived from the original on 16 April 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  46. ^ "Al-Nujaba Militia Leader Sheikh Akram Al-Kaabi: IRGC And Lebanese Hizbullah Officers Have Guided Us In Fighting The American Forces Since 2004: 'We Started Using Explosively Formed Penetrators... They Would Explode Inside The Tank, Destroying It And Killing' The Americans Inside". MEMRI. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
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  54. ^ "UAE cabinet endorses new list of terrorist groups". kuna.net. 15 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  55. ^ "IRGC-controlled Iraqi militia forms 'Golan Liberation Brigade'". Long War Journal. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
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