Special Groups (Iraq)
| Special Groups | |
|---|---|
| Participant in Iraq War | |
| Active | 2007–2011, 2014-present |
| Ideology |
Shi'a Islamism Iraqi nationalism anti-Sunnism |
| Leaders |
Muqtada al-Sadr |
| Headquarters | Sadr City, Baghdad |
| Area of operations | Baghdad and southern Iraq |
| Strength | 7,000+ (2011) |
| Part of |
Mahdi Army (until 2008) Iraqi insurgency |
| Originated as | Mahdi Army |
| Became |
Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Kata'ib Hezbollah Promised Day Brigades |
| Allies |
Mahdi Army Iran SyriaHezbollah |
| Opponents |
 Coalition (until 2009) United States (until 2011) Iraqi Security Forces (until 2011) Sunni Insurgents Free Syrian Army
|
| Battles and wars | Iraq War, Iraqi Civil War, Iraqi insurgency, Syrian Civil War |
Muqtada al-Sadr
Qais al-Khazali
Akram al Kabi
Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani
Ahmad Sajad al-Gharawi
Abu Deraa
Arkan Hasnawi †
Special Groups (SGs) is a designation given by the American military to the cell-based Shi'a paramilitary organizations operating within Iraq, backed by Iran. According to the Americans these groups are funded, trained, and armed by the Iranian Quds Force, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
According to American General Kevin J. Bergner, the Special Groups receive between 750,000 and 3,000,000 dollars funding per month from the Quds Force. These groups are separate from but allied with the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr. The distinction between these groups and the Mahdi Army became more clear when al-Sadr called for a ceasefire at the end of August 2007 following Mahdi Army clashes with Iraqi Security Forces in Karbala but the Special Groups continued fighting. After the Mahdi Army's disbandment in 2008, the Promised Day Brigades emerged as its successor; however, the largest special group to emerge after the Iraq spring fighting of 2008 was Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (also known as the Qazali Network). According to the Guardian newspaper in March 2014, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq is controlled by Iran under Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani. Another large special group is Kata'ib Hezbollah (or Hezbollah Brigades) which started to operate independently from the Mahdi Army and the other Special Groups. Suspected leaders include Qais al-Khazali, Laith al-Khazali, Ali al-Lami, Azhar al Dulaimi, Akram al-Kabi, Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Abu Deraa.
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