Special Groups (SGs) is a designation given by the United States military to the cell-based Shi'a paramilitary organizations operating within Iraq. The USA states these groups are funded, trained, and armed by the Iranian Quds Force, part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). According to the United States Department of Defense, 603 American troops in total were confirmed to have been killed by IRGC-backed Shia militias (Special Groups) during the Iraq War.
According to US 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 Khazali Network). According to the Guardian newspaper in March 2014, Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq was controlled by Iran under Quds Force General Qasem Soleimani, who was killed in 2020.Controlled by Iran, the deadly militia recruiting Iraq's men to die in Syria, The Guardian, 12 March 2014 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-Kaabi, Abu Mustafa al-Sheibani, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Abu Deraa.
History Since the Islamic Revolution, Iran has sought to back Shia Islamist paramilitary organizations across the Middle East. Many have been close to the Iranian state, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, like the Movement of Vanguard Missionaries and the Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI). During the Iran–Iraq War many of these groups fought for Iran, with SCIRI's Badr Brigade being led by Iranian officers. After the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, these Iranian-led militia men returned to Iraq where they retained their autonomy and Iran continued to support Shia Islamist paramilitaries.
In February 2010, Asaib Ahl al-Haq kidnapped U.S. contractor Issa T. Salomi, a naturalized American from Iraq. They released a video of him where he read their demands, calling for the release of all the group's members, including several of the group's leaders who were imprisoned. He was released in March 2010 in exchange for four AAH militants being held in Iraqi custody. Iran supported three Shiite groups in Iraq that tried to attack American bases, stated Commander of US forces in Iraq, US General Ray Odierno (1954–2021), on July 21, 2010, during the Occupation of Iraq (2003–2011). The Iranians have "gone to a more sophisticated program with a smaller set of extremists" and are now focusing on three groups, which he identified as Kataib Hezbollah, Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous), and the Promised Day Brigade.
As of 2011, according to American officials, the Promised Day Brigades was the largest, with over 5,000 fighters. It posed the biggest, long-term security threat to Iraq. Kata'ib Hezbollah was said to have around 1,000 fighters: it was the most reliant on Iranian support. Asa'ib al-Haq was said to have less than 1,000 fighters as of 2011: it received a reported 5 million per month in Iranian funding. The Promised Day Brigades was said to receive the least amount of Iranian funding: it was the most independent of the three.
At the start of the Iraqi war against ISIS, the Special Groups joined the Popular Mobilization Forces to fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
Leaders NameGroupRankStatusMuqtada al-SadrPromised Day BrigadeSpiritual LeaderIn Iran, since 2006. Returned to Iraq in January 2011.Qais al-KhazaliAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqLeaderCaptured on March 20, 2007 in Basra, released on January 5, 2010Laith al-KhazaliAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqDeputy LeaderCaptured on March 20, 2007 in Basra, released June 9, 2009Akram al-KabiAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqActing leaderAt largeAbu Mustafa al-SheibaniSheibani NetworkLeaderIn Tehran, Iran, since 2008.United States Department of the Treasury Treasury Designates Individuals, Entity Fueling Iraqi Insurgency Returned to Iraq in September 2010.Abu Mahdi al-MuhandisKata'ib HezbollahQuds ForceTop Advisor to Kata'ib Hezbollahand Iran's Quds ForceKilled in a U.S. drone strike on January 3, 2020Azhar al DulaimiAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqKarbala Raid mastermindKilled May 18, 2007 by U.S. forces in BaghdadAli Musa DaqduqAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqHezbollahTop advisor to Qais al-KhazaliHead of Hezbollah operations in IraqCaptured on March 20, 2007 in Basra, handed over to Iraqi authorities on December 15, 2011 Released November 2012.Abu Yaser al-SheibaniSheibani NetworkDeputy LeaderCaptured on April 20, 2007Ali Faisal al-LamiAsa'ib Ahl al-Haq(INC)Senior CommanderPolitical leaderCaptured on August 28, 2008, released in August 2009Tahseen al FreijiPromised Day BrigadeSocial Political LeaderAt LargeAkran HasnawiHasnawi NetworkLeaderKilled on May 3, 2008 in Sadr CityMahdi Khaddam Alawi al-ZirjawiPromised Day BrigadeSG Sadr City CommanderAt LargeBaqir al-Sa'idiPromised Day BrigadeTrainingIn Iran, possibly returned to Sadr CityJawad Kazim al TulaybaniPromised Day BrigadeRocket SpecialistAt LargeHaydar Mehdi Khadum al-FawadiOwn GroupLeaderAt LargeSheikh Abd al-Hadi al-DarrajiAsa'ib Ahl al-Haq(Sadr Movement)FinancerPolitical/Religious leaderArrested January 10, 2007, released 26 June 2009Abu DeraaOwn GroupAAH since 2010LeaderHigh-level commanderFled to Iran in late 2008. Returned to Iraq in on 20 August 2010.Ahmad Abu Sajad al-GharawiOwn Group in MaysanLeaderAt LargeMohamed al-ZameliunknownLocal commander (Wasit)Detained on 23 January 2009Muhammad al-TabatabaiAsa'ib Ahl al-HaqClericAt large
See also Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada Kata'ib al-Imam Ali Jaysh al-Mu'ammal Liwa Assad Allah Hezbollah (Lebanon) Hezbollah al-Hejaz (Saudi Arabia) Liwa Fatemiyoun (Syria) Liwa Zainebiyoun (Syria) Harakah al-Sabireen (Palestine) Islamic Movement (Nigeria)
References
External links
– 21 Oct 2007 Raid in Baghdad's Sadr City kills 49 Special Groups operatives – 21 Oct 2007 DoD News Briefing with Maj. Gen. Sherlock from the Pentagon – 04 Oct 2007 Cooling The Clash With Iran – 16 Sep 2007 – 11 Sep 2007 – 12 Jul 2007 – 02 Jul 2007 – 15 Nov 2008
– 26 Apr 2009 Special Groups training Recent Attacks in Iraq: Al-Qaeda in Iraq or Special Groups?