Active 2013 – present | Leaders Sheikh Akram al-Kaabi | |
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Ideology Shia Islamism (Vilayat-e Faqih) | ||
Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN; Arabic: حركة حزب الله النجباء Ḥaraka Ḥizballāh an-Nujabā’, "Movement of the Party of God's Nobles") is an Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitary group.
Contents
History
HHN emerged from the Iraqi paramilitary Asaib Ahl al-Haq (AAH) in 2013 and is led by AAH co-founder Sheikh Akram al-Kaabi. al-Kaabi claims that, after a period of militant inactivity, the Syrian civil war motivated him to form the militia. He denies it emerged from a "split" with AAH, but that he chose not to unify with them due to disagreements. The two groups still share close affinity, often simultaneously commemorating martyrs. The group openly receives training, arms, and military advice from Iran. They have released a nasheed praising Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Suleimani. They follow the Iranian government's ideology of Vilayat-e Faqih, and al-Kaabi has stated that he would overthrow the Iraqi government or fight alongside the Yemeni Houthis if ordered by Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.
The group was one of the first Iraqi paramilitaries to send fighters to Syria, doing so since their formation in 2013. They have had an increasing role in the country after a significant boost to recruitment efforts took place in 2015. They were a major participant in the 2015 South Aleppo offensive and the breaking of the siege of the Shia towns Nubl and Zahraa.
In December 2014, ABNA.ir published photos of Iranian-built Yasir UAV (an unlicensed copy of the American ScanEagle) claimed in use with Harakat Hizballah al-Nujaba.
In April 2015, al-Kaabi claimed the group had suffered 126 casualties, including 38 in Syria.
Divisions
The group is divided into four brigades: