OVERVIEW

Kata’ib Hizballah flag

Iraqi Shia militant group Kata’ib Hizballah (KH) poses a high threat to US diplomatic and military personnel in Iraq and Syria, where it has a history of conducting attacks using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and advanced conventional weapons. Founded in 2007, KH seeks to establish an Iran-aligned government in Iraq, expel US and coalition forces from the country, and advance Iranian interests throughout the Middle East.

Since the start of the Israel-HAMAS conflict in October 2023, KH and other Iraqi Shia militant groups—under the banner of the Islamic Resistance of Iraq—have conducted more than 100 attacks against US forces in Iraq and Syria. In February 2024, a US airstrike in Baghdad killed a KH commander who was responsible for attacks on US forces in the region.

OPERATING AREAS
Based primarily in Iraq and Syria; also possibly operates in Bahrain, Iran, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia

MEMBERS
Up to 10,000

TACTICS AND TARGETS
KH attacks US personnel and facilities using improvised explosive devices, rockets, and UAS, and it kidnaps and assassinates its domestic rivals. The group has access to a variety of weapons and equipment, including armored vehicles, artillery, explosively formed projectiles, man-portable air defense systems, and missiles. KH has received extensive training, funding, logistic support, weapons, and intelligence from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps–Qods Force, which exerts some influence over KH operations. It has also received training and weapons from Lebanese Hizballah.

FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
The US Department of State designated KH as a foreign terrorist organization in July 2009. KH’s overall leader, Ahmad al-Hamidawi, was named a Specially Designated Global Terrorist in February 2020.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS