Groups · Iraqi Shia militia
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq
Overview
State: "Formed in 2006, AAH is extensively funded and trained by Iran. AAH has claimed responsibility for thousands of attacks against U.S. and Coalition forces". (state.gov)
Outside Support in US Documents
The State Department text cited here names Iran as AAH's funder and trainer; it does not name the IRGC Qods Force. (state.gov)
From MEF Research
Nujaba emerged from Asaib Ahl al Haq (AAH) in 2013 (AAH was itself a split from the Sadrists).
Leaders
Names, titles and roles exactly as given in US designation documents. Titles reflect the date of the document and may be out of date.
| Name (OFAC Spelling) | Role as Stated | On SDN List Since | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL-KHAZALI, Qais | 2019-12-06 | OFAC record · state.gov |
History
- 2006 State: AAH was formed in 2006. (state.gov)
- 2020-01-03 ASA'IB AHL AL-HAQ added to the OFAC SDN List. (OFAC SDN record 28283)
- 2020-01-10 Federal Register notice: State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. (federalregister.gov)
- 2020-01-10 Federal Register notice: State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Foreign Terrorist Organization. (federalregister.gov)
Designations
| Date | Record | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-01-10 | Federal Register notice | Designation of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (85 FR 1370) | federalregister.gov |
| 2020-01-10 | Federal Register notice | In the Matter of the Designation of the Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (and other aliases) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (85 FR 1369) | federalregister.gov |
| 2020-01-10 | State Department release | State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. | federalregister.gov |
| 2020-01-10 | State Department release | State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Foreign Terrorist Organization. | federalregister.gov |
| 2020-01-03 | OFAC SDN List entry | ASA'IB AHL AL-HAQ: programs SDGT, FTO; on the SDN List since 2020-01-03 (OFAC enhanced list date). | OFAC SDN record 28283 |
Activity
- 0 attacks and clashes
- 3 money and logistics events
- 2 counteractions
| Date | Type | Groups | Place | Summary | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-07 | Money and logistics | Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada | Iran (country named most often in the release) | Treasury sanctions action; the release names Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. | US Treasury press release |
| 2026-04-17 | Money and logistics | Kata'ib Hezbollah, al-Nujaba, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada | Iraq (country named most often in the release) | Treasury sanctions action; the release names Kata'ib Hezbollah, al-Nujaba, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. | US Treasury press release |
| 2025-10-09 | Money and logistics | Kata'ib Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq | Iraq (country named most often in the release) | Treasury sanctions action; the release names Kata'ib Hezbollah, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq. | US Treasury press release |
| 2020-01-10 | Counteractions | Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq | Washington, D.C. (Federal Register notice) | State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Specially Designated Global Terrorist. | Federal Register 85 FR 1370 |
| 2020-01-10 | Counteractions | Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq | Washington, D.C. (Federal Register notice) | State designated Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq a Foreign Terrorist Organization. | Federal Register 85 FR 1369 |
MEF Coverage
MEF-written articles in the local meforum.org archive that mention this group (100 shown; the archive covers 2004-09-01 to 2026-08-28).
- To Combat Iranian Proxies, Trump Should Target Their Penetration of Iraqi Telecom
- Why Sanctions on Iraq Will Be Necessary to Force Iraqi Militia Disarmament
- The U.S.-Iran Pause Didn’t Stop Tehran’s Drone War, and This Worries Israel
- Why Purging Iraq’s Security Institutions Matters More than Disbanding Militias
- Why Washington’s Current Sanctions Regime Fails to Curb Iraq’s Parallel Economy
- Washington’s Blindspot Toward Baghdad’s False Reform
- The Illusion of Change in Iraq: Baghdad’s Militia Shake-up Masks a Deeper Iranian Strategy
- Iraq’s Prime Minister-Designate Signals His Loyalty to Iran
- Iran’s Network Doubles Down on Iraq’s Premiership
- How Iran Remapped the Arab Political Mind
- Will Iraq’s New Prime Minister Uphold Rule of Law?
- Iraqi Prime Minister Sudani Lies to President Trump About Militias
- Trump Will Likely Oppose Basim al-Badri as Iraqi Prime Minister
- After Khamenei and Larijani, Lebanon’s Nabih Berri and Iraq’s Hadi Amiri and Ali Nizar Must Go
- The Houthis Can Survive Iranian Regime Change
- As Iran Teeters, It Is Time to Offer Iraqi Leaders an Off-Ramp
- The Fall of Iran Could Change Everything
- Iran-Backed Militias Reassert Power in Iraq, Proving the Islamic Axis Is Still Standing
- Uniquely Malevolent: Understanding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
- The Sadrists’ Rebranding Collapses When It Aligns with the Kurdistan Democratic Party
- Intra-Family Fighting Shows Kurds Aren’t Serious American Partners
- Lifting Sanctions on Syria Is Al Qaeda’s Dream Come True
- Oman Remains the Weak Link in the Counter-Houthi Fight
- Will Iran's Regime Rally in Iraq?
- America Abandoning Iraq Only Helps Iran
- Vindicating The Poisoned Chalice: Iran's Creeping Invasion of Iraq
- Can Iraq Avoid Becoming the Next Lebanon?
- Is Iran’s Khamenei Dead Man Walking? Is Erdoğan?
- A World without the Islamic Republic of Iran
- Who Killed the Three U.S. Soldiers at Tower 22?
- The U.S. Must Reduce Iranian Influence in Iraq
- The 'Confessions' of Elizabeth Tsurkov: Translation and Overview
- UN Sec-Gen Guterres Shakes Bloody Hands in Iraq
- Muqtada al-Sadr, Iraq's Dangerous Actor, Part II: Looking Ahead
- Iranian Attacks in Iraq Reflect Weakness, Disarray
- Tehran's Russian Connection
- Is Iran Spreading Fake News of Anti-Israel Revenge Attacks?
- Who Bombed the Saudi Oil Storage Yard at Ras Tanura?
- Shia Militias Threaten US, Israel in Iraq
- Iran, Turkey, Ben Rhodes, Tlaib United in Criticism of UAE-Israel Deal
- Assessing the US Strategy in Iraq
- Pro-Iranian Militias in Iraq Debate Best Way to Defeat US
- Middle East Insider: March 26, 2020
- The Situation in Iraq: Policy Implications for the West
- Is Iran behind Rocket Attack that Killed US-led Coalition Forces in Iraq?
- Who Is Attacking American Troops in Iraq?
- Iranian Munitions Used to Kill Protests in Iraq
- Revolt against Iran's 'System' in Iraq and Lebanon
- Increasing Evidence of Iran's Role in Crackdown on Protests in Iraq
- Iran's Model: Smash the Protests in Lebanon and Iraq
- Iran's Confused Response to Iraq Strikes
- The Great Saudi-Iranian Proxy Game
- Backgrounder: The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Drones, Shi'ite militias at Heart of Iranian Threat to Israel
- Iran's Allies in Iraq Face Complex Choice amid Increasing 'Airstrikes'
- Could US Forces Be Targeted amid Iran-Israel Tensions in Iraq?
- Suspected Israeli Strikes in Iraq Raise Fears of Escalation in Iran Proxy Fight
- Are Airstrikes on Shi'ite Militias in Iraq a New Front?
- Iraq's De-militiafication Is a Sham
- A U.S.-Iran War Will Not Be Fought Only in Iran