Many Iraqi Arabs identify strongly with a tribe (العشيرة 'ashira). Iraq is home to approximately 150 tribes, 30 of which are considered the most influential, composed of about 2,000 smaller clans with varying sizes and influence — the largest numbering more than one million people, the smallest a few thousand. These tribes are grouped into federations (قبيلة qabila). Within the tribe, there is the clan (الفخذ fukhdh), the house (البيت beit) and the extended family (الخمس khams). Tribes are led by sheikhs (شيخ sheykh) who represent the tribe and deal with its domestic affairs. Many Arabs identify more strongly with their family and tribe than their national or religious affiliation. 75% of Iraqis are members of a tribe or have kinship to one.ADA464737.pdf
On its accession to power in the 17 July Revolution of 1968, Iraq's Ba'ath Party announced its opposition to tribalism ( القبلية ''al-qabaliyya''), although for pragmatic reasons, especially during the Iran–Iraq War, tribalism was sometimes tolerated and even encouraged.
List of major tribes
Al-Khafaji Al-Srai Al-Sari Al-Alattiya Al-Maliki Al-Qaraghoul Al-Khuza'ah Al-Shammari Al-Samraie Al-Azzawi Al-Huraithi Al-Absawi Al-Asooli Al-Dulaimi Al-Jubouri Al-Juaibar Al-Suwaidi Al-Amri Al-Nuaimi Al-Jumaili Al-Salaman Al-Naji Al-Kadhmi Al-Qarawi Al-Janabi Al-Wani Al-Ahmed Al-Kaabi Al-Anzi Al-Ubaid Al-Ali Al-Duraji Al-Khazail Al-Hasan Al-Khazraji Al-Lami Al-Malik Al-Muntafiq Al-Nasiri Al-Dhafeer Al-Musawi Al-Yasiri Al-Asadi Al-Salman Al-Zubaidi Al-Mutairi Al-Otaibi Al-Kilab Al-Bayati Al-Kaabi Al-Uqaydat Al-Bu Badri Al-Baggara Al-Rahabi Al-Talafha Al-Sawae'id Al-Manaseer Albu Badran Al-Harbi Al-Tai'ee Al-Sudani Partial source:
See also Iraqis Arabs
References
Tripp, Charles (2000) A History of Iraq. Cambridge University Press. / Al-Azzawi, Abbas. Asha'ir al-Iraq (The Tribes of Iraq). Baghdad Press, Iraq. Al-Amiri, Thamir. "Mawsu'at al-Qaba'il al-Iraqiyya" (The Encyclopedia of Iraqi Tribes). 9 vols. Baghdad, 1991–1997. Al-Samarra'i, Younis Al-Sheikh Ibrahim. Al-Qaba'il al-Iraqiyya (Iraqi Tribes). Al-Sharaf Al-Jedid Press, Baghdad, Iraq. Al-Samarra'i, Younis Al-Sheikh Ibrahim. Al-Qaba'il wa al-Biyoutat al-Hashimiya fi al-Iraq (Hashimi Tribes and Families in Iraq). Al-Umma Press, Baghdad. Al-Durubi, Ibrahim. Al-Baghdadiyun, Akhbaruhum wa Majalisuhum (The Baghdadis, Their Annals and Assemblies). Al-Rabita Press, Baghdad, 1958. ath-Thuroihi, Abdul Maula. (Ar-Riyaadh al-Azhariyyah Fii Taariikh al-Usor al-‘Alawiyyah)