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Groups · Iraqi Shia militia

Kata'ib al-Imam Ali

Also: KIA, Imam Ali Brigades. Base: Iraq.

Overview

State: "KIA is affiliated with the IRI, and has, in coordination with other IAMGs, planned attacks targeting U.S. military and diplomatic facilities as well as commercial projects." (state.gov)

IRGC Qods Force in US Documents

KIA Secretary General Shibl al-Zaydi, designated in 2018 as an SDGT, served as a financial coordinator between the IRGC-QF and armed groups in Iraq

From MEF Research

The two militias are the powerful Asaib Ahl al-Haq organization, headed by Qais al-Khazali, and the Ktaeb Imam Ali group, helmed by Shibl al-Zaidi.

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 Titles reflect the date of the document and may be out of date.

People Tied to This Group in US Designation Records
Name (OFAC Spelling)Role as StatedOn SDN List SinceSource
AL-ZAYDI, Shibl Muhsin 'UbaydSecretary General Shibl al-Zaydi (State, 2025)2018-11-13OFAC record · state.gov

History

  1. 2025-06-12 KATA'IB AL-IMAM ALI added to the OFAC SDN List. (OFAC SDN record 54314)
  2. 2025-08-01 Federal Register notice: State designated Kata'ib al-Imam Ali and Nasr Mohsen Ali Huthele Specially Designated Global Terrorists. (federalregister.gov)
  3. 2025-09-17 State announced the FTO designations of Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali; they took effect on Federal Register publication, September 18, 2025 (90 FR 45097). (state.gov)
  4. 2025-09-18 Federal Register notice: State designated Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali Foreign Terrorist Organizations. (federalregister.gov)

Designations

US Listing Records
DateRecordDetailSource
2025-09-18Federal Register noticeForeign Terrorist Organization Designations of Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali (90 FR 45097)federalregister.gov
2025-09-17State Department releaseState announced the FTO designations of Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali; they took effect on Federal Register publication, September 18, 2025 (90 FR 45097).state.gov
2025-08-01Federal Register noticeSpecially Designated Global Terrorist Designations of Kata'ib al-Imam Ali and Nasr Mohsen Ali Huthele (90 FR 36274)federalregister.gov
2025-08-01State Department releaseState designated Kata'ib al-Imam Ali and Nasr Mohsen Ali Huthele Specially Designated Global Terrorists.federalregister.gov
2025-06-12OFAC SDN List entryKATA'IB AL-IMAM ALI: programs SDGT, FTO; on the SDN List since 2025-06-12 (OFAC enhanced list date).OFAC SDN record 54314

Activity

  • 0 attacks and clashes
  • 0 money and logistics events
  • 2 counteractions

Events on record from 2025-08-01 to 2025-09-17.

Open All 2 Events on the Map

All 2 Events, Newest First
DateTypeGroupsPlaceSummarySource
2025-09-17Counteractions
State FTO designation		al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, Kata'ib al-Imam AliWashington, D.C. (designation)
town or city (Natural Earth: Washington, D.C.)		State announced the FTO designations of Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and Kata'ib al-Imam Ali; they took effect on Federal Register publication, September 18, 2025 (90 FR 45097).State
2025-08-01Counteractions
State SDGT designation		Kata'ib al-Imam Ali, al-NujabaWashington, D.C. (Federal Register notice)
issuing capital (Natural Earth: Washington, D.C.)		State designated Kata'ib al-Imam Ali and Nasr Mohsen Ali Huthele Specially Designated Global Terrorists.
Federal Register publication date.		Federal Register 90 FR 36274

MEF Coverage

MEF-written articles in the local meforum.org archive that mention this group (13 shown; the archive covers 2004-09-01 to 2026-08-28).