Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq

{{Short description|Iraqi Shi'a paramilitary group}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox political party

| name = Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq

| native_name = {{lang|ar|عصائب أهل الحق}}

| colorcode = #B5CA7F

| logo =

| leader = Qais al-Khazali

| foundation = {{start date|2006|7}}

| international = Axis of Resistance

| seats1_title = Seats in the Council of Representatives:

| seats1 = {{Composition bar|17|329|hex=#B5CA7F}}{{Cite web|url=http://almasalah.com/ar/News/137446/%D9%87%D9%83%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-15-%D9%85%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86|title=هكذا حقّقت العصائب الإنجاز الكبير.. من نائب (1) الى (15) ممثل للشعب في البرلمان|website=almasalah.com|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=2018-06-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630141249/http://almasalah.com/ar/news/137446/%D9%87%D9%83%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%82%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%83%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89-15-%D9%85%D9%85%D8%AB%D9%84-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B4%D8%B9%D8%A8-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86|url-status=dead}}

| ideology = Shia Islamism
Khomeinism[http://www.meri-k.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/PMF-Report-0.2.pdf PMF Report] meri-k.org March 2017
Wilayat al-Faqih{{Cite web|url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/14510/iraq-who-are-asaib-ahl-al-haq-islamists|title=Iraq: Who are Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq Islamists?|first=Aymenn Jawad|last=Al-Tamimi|website=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi}}
Anti-Sunnism{{Cite web |title=Asaib Ahl al-Haq |url=https://www.counterextremism.com/threat/asaib-ahl-al-haq |access-date=2024-05-12 |website=Counter Extremism Project |language=en}}
Muhammad Sadiq al-Sadr Thought
Anti-Zionism{{Cite web|url=http://ar.abna24.com/service/iraq/archive/2015/01/23/666610/story.html|title=عصائب أهل الحق تدعو حركات المقاومة برد قاس على الكيان الصهيوني|date=January 23, 2015|website=ar.abna24.com}}
Anti-Americanism{{Cite web|url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/iran-backed-iraqi-groups-threaten-violence-following-us-terrorism-bill|title=Iran-Backed Iraqi Groups Threaten Violence Following U.S. Terrorism Bill|website=Middle East Institute}}
Pan-Islamism{{Cite web|url=https://www.annahar.com/article/168856-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D9%84%D8%A7-%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%83%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9|title=عصائب اهل الحق العراقية لـالنهار: لا يمكن الانتصار على داعش من دون السُنة|date=September 8, 2014|website=An-Nahar}}
Anti-West{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/iranian-militias-in-iraqs-parliament-political-outcomes-and-u.s.-response|title=Iranian Militias in Iraq's Parliament: Political Outcomes and U.S. Response|website=www.washingtoninstitute.org}}
Anti-LGBT{{Cite web|url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/world-changing-iraqi-lgbt-group-takes-campaign-streets|title = 'The world is changing': Iraqi LGBT group takes campaign to streets}}
Kazem al-Haeri Thought{{Cite web|url=http://www.basnews.com/ar/babat/541349|title = الزعيم الروحي للعصائب يحرم بقاء القوات الأميركية في العراق ومخاوف من مواجهة "وشيكة"}}

| position = Right-wing to far-right

| seats2_title = Seats in the Governorate Councils:

| seats2 =

| colours = {{Color box|#FFFFFF|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#B5CA7F|border=darkgray}} White, Green

| religion = Shia Islam

| national = Fatah Alliance
Al-Sadiqoun Bloc

| country = Iraq

}}

{{Infobox War Faction

| name = Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH)

| war = Iraq War
Iraqi Civil War
Syrian Civil War

| image =

| caption =

| active = July 2006 – present

| leaders = Qais al-Khazali
Akram al-Kaabi (2007–2010)

| clans = See section

| headquarters = Sadr City, Baghdad, Iraq

| area = Mainly Baghdad and Southern Iraq; also active in Iraq's central regions

| spokesman = Naeem al-Aboudi{{Cite web |url=http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3908.html |title=موقع المقاومة الإسلامية عصائب أهل الحق - الاستاذ نعيم العبودي المتحدث باسم المكتب السياسي للمقاومة الاسلامية عصائب اهل الحق ضيف برنامج الشارع العراقي من قناة التغيير |access-date=2018-07-08 |archive-date=2018-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708192001/http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3908.html |url-status=dead }}
Jawad al-Talabawi (military){{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-mosul-idUSKCN0X415T|title=Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitaries say will join offensive to retake Mosul|date=April 7, 2016|via=www.reuters.com|newspaper=Reuters}}

| size = 10,000{{cite web|url=http://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/threat_pdf/Asaib%20Ahl%20al-Haq-04072016.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507215039/http://www.counterextremism.com/sites/default/files/threat_pdf/Asaib%20Ahl%20al-Haq-04072016.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 May 2016|title=Threat|access-date=8 June 2016}}

| partof = Special Groups
{{flagicon image|Al hashd al shaabi 379865.jpg}}/{{flagicon image|PMF infobox.png}} Popular Mobilization Forces
Islamic Resistance in Iraq

| split_from = Sadrist Movement (Mahdi Army)

| successor =

| allegiance = {{flag|Iran}} (IRGC){{Cite journal |last=Wyer |first=Sam |date=December 2012 |title=The Resurgence of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq |url=https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/ResurgenceofAAH.pdf |journal=Institute for the Study of War}}
{{flag|Iraq}} (2006–present){{Cite web|url=https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/asaib-ahl-al-haq|title=MMP: Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq|website=cisac.fsi.stanford.edu|accessdate=9 August 2023}}

| allies = State allies

• {{flag|Iran|size=23px}}
• {{flag|Russia|size=23px}}{{Cite web|date=2023-04-26|title= The Militia-Russia Love Affair: April 2023 Update|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/militia-russia-love-affair-april-2023-update|website=Washington Institute|access-date=2023-07-23}}
• {{flagicon|Syria|1980}} Ba'athist Syria (until 2024){{cite web |last1=Alex |first1=MacDonald |title=Houthis say Assad closed their embassy in exchange for Saudi one opening |url=https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/houthis-say-assad-closed-down-their-embassy-exchange-saudi-arabia |website=Middle East Eye |access-date=8 December 2024 |quote=On Sunday, a news channel associated with the Iraqi armed group Asaib Ahl al-Haq released a report in which Assad was featured alongside other members of “the criminal Baath Party" including former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein.}}

Non-state allies

• {{flagicon image|Islamic Dawa Party Flag.svg}} Islamic Dawa Party (Nouri al-Maliki){{Cite web|url=https://www.independentarabia.com/node/28191/|title=قيس الخزعلي... "قائد الميليشيا" الباحث عن صفة رجل السياسة|date=27 May 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://al-ain.com/article/iran-criminal-regime-asaib-ahl-al-haq-syria-iraq|title="عصائب أهل الحق".. ذراع نظام إيران الإجرامية بسوريا والعراق|date=31 October 2019}}
• {{flagicon image|Kata'ib Hezbollah sans logo.JPG}}/{{flagicon image|Hisbollah-Brigaden Flagge.svg|200px}} Kata'ib Hezbollah{{Cite web|url=https://css.ethz.ch/en/services/digital-library/articles/article.html/9f6a70c3-fa15-4c4b-b9fe-bc4a5c7dce3f|title=News Article|website=css.ethz.ch}}
• Ashab al-Kahf (alleged, denied)
• {{flagicon image|Flag of Promised Day Brigades.svg|size=23px}} Promised Day Brigades
• {{flagicon image|Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas SSI.svg}} Liwa Abu al-Fadhal al-Abbas
• {{flag|Hezbollah}}{{Cite web|url=https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/asaib-ahl-al-haq|title=FSI | CISAC | MAPPINGMILITANTS CISAC - MMP: Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq|website=cisac.fsi.stanford.edu}}
• {{flagicon image|Emblem of Liwa Al-Quds.svg|border=}} Liwa al-Quds{{Cite web |url=http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3777.html |title=موقع المقاومة الإسلامية عصائب أهل الحق - العصائب وكسر الأسوار |access-date=2018-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624204156/http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3777.html |archive-date=2018-06-24 |url-status=dead }}
• Sheibani Network
• {{flagicon image|}} Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba{{Cite web|url=http://oneiraqnews.com/?aa=news&id22=2307|title=الحشد الشعبي: التشكيل.. التدريب .. النشوء ومراحل تصنيع السلاح|website=oneiraqnews.com}}
• {{flagicon image|Single Color Flag - FFFF00.svg}} Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada{{Cite web|url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/629|title=Kata'ib Sayyid al-Shuhada | Mapping Militant Organizations|website=web.stanford.edu}}
• {{flagicon image|}} Liwa Ali al-Akbar{{Cite web|url=http://burathanews.com/arabic/reports/256357|title = تشكيل لواء علي الأكبر والبطولات التي سطرها ضد كيان "داعش" التكفيري|date = 4 January 2015}}
• {{flagdeco|IRQ}} LAAG{{Cite web|url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/how-iran-is-building-its-syrian-hezbollah|title = How Iran is Building Its Syrian Hezbollah}}
• {{flagdeco|BHR}} Al-Mukhtar Brigades (alleged)
• {{flagdeco|BHR}} Al-Ashtar Brigades (alleged){{Cite web|url=https://middle-east-online.com/%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A|title=مؤامرة لضرب استقرار البحرين على يد كتائب حزب الله العراقي|date=March 17, 2018|website=MEO|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-date=June 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610232905/https://middle-east-online.com/%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%84%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A|url-status=dead}}
• Faylaq al Waad al Sadiq{{cite web | url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-april-19-2024 | title=Institute for the Study of War }}

| opponents = State opponents

• {{flagcountry|Israel}}
• {{flagcountry|Palestinian Authority}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of Multi-National Force – Iraq.png|size=23px}} Multi-National Force – Iraq
• {{USA}}
• {{GBR}}
• {{flagdeco|Syrian opposition}} Syria (from 2024)

Non-state opponents

• {{flagicon|Kurdistan}} Peshmerga
• {{flag|Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004-2005).svg}} Al-Qaida in Iraq{{Cite web |url=http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3358.html |title=موقع المقاومة الإسلامية عصائب أهل الحق - الشهيد السعيد لـيث صـــاحب كـــــان مــــــؤمناً أن طريـــــق أهـــل الحـــق هــــــــو طريـــــــــــق الخـــــــــــــــــــــــلاص والتحــــــــــرُّر |access-date=2018-07-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718234622/http://ahlualhaq.com/index.php/permalink/3358.html |archive-date=2018-07-18 |url-status=dead }}
• {{flagdeco|Ba'athist Iraq}} Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order{{Cite web|url=https://www.alhadath.net/alhadath/iraq/2014/06/26/جيش-الطريقة-النقشبندية-لاعب-جديد-قديم-في-العراق.html|title=جيش "الطريقة النقشبندية".. لاعب جديد قديم في العراق|first=العربية|last=نت|date=June 26, 2014|website=العربية نت}}
• {{flagicon image|InfoboxHTS.svg|size=24px}} Hayat Tahrir al-Sham
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Islamic Front (Syria) (Black).svg}} Islamic Front
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Al-Nusra Front (Variant).svg|size=23px}} Al-Nusra Front
• {{flagicon image|Flag of Kurdistan Workers' Party.svg}} Kurdistan Workers' Party{{Cite web|url=https://ar.farsnews.ir/middle_east/news/13940924000670|title=عصائب أهل الحق العراقية: القيادة الكردية وراء إدخال عناصر الـpkk الى طوزخرماتو - وكالة انباء فارس | Fars News Agency - FarsNews Agency|website=ar.farsnews.ir}}
• {{flagicon image|Flag of the Kurdish White Flags (variant).jpg}} White Flags{{Cite web|url=http://baghdadtoday.news/news/36616/b|title=العصائب تقبض على 4 "انفصاليين" بينهم عنصر من الرايات البيضاء بكمين وسط كركوك|website=baghdadtoday.news|access-date=4 January 2020|archive-date=4 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104002707/https://baghdadtoday.news/news/36616/b|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon image|Emblem of the Jaish al-Fatah.svg|border=}} Army of Conquest{{Cite web |url=http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/d9930268-8546-4e15-8160-85f43c05d6ba |title="عنصر بعصائب اهل الحق يناشد للافراج عنه من جيش الفتح بحلب" |access-date=2018-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822145949/http://www.shafaaq.com/ar/Ar_NewsReader/d9930268-8546-4e15-8160-85f43c05d6ba |archive-date=2018-08-22 |url-status=dead }}

| battles = {{tree list}}

• Iraq War
• Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)
• 2003–2006 phase of the Iraqi insurgency
• Karbala provincial headquarters raid
• Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)
• Operation Together Forward
• Siege of Sadr City
• Siege of U.K. bases in Basra
• Iraq spring fighting of 2008
• Battle of Basra{{citation needed|date=June 2018}}

• Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017){{cite web|author=Bowen, Jeremy|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-28199741|title=The fearsome Iraqi militia vowing to vanquish Isis|work=BBC News|date=7 July 2014|access-date=1 May 2016}}
• Siege of Amirli{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/09/us_airstrikes_in_ame.php|title=US airstrikes in Amerli supported deadly Shia terror group |work=The Long War Journal|date=2 September 2014|author=Bill Roggio|access-date=8 June 2016}}{{cite news|author=Kirkpatrick, David|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/world/middleeast/shiite-militias-pose-challenge-for-us-in-iraq.html|title=Shiite Militias Pose Challenge for U.S. in Iraq|work=The New York Times|date=10 April 2013|access-date=2 May 2016}}
• Operation Ashura{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/iraqi-forces-press-to-secure-shiite-south-ahead-of-religious-festival/2014/10/25/0b6ac5f0-6e1e-47f4-ab8d-a942c3606506_story.html|title=Iraqi forces press to secure Shiite south before religious observances believed to be target of Islamic State|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=8 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/world/middleeast/la-fg-shiites-iraq-new-year-20141026-story.html|title=Iraqi Shiites warily greet new year, watch for suicide bombers|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=8 June 2016|date=2014-10-26}}
• Battle of Baiji (2014){{Cite web|url=https://alahad.tv.iq/index.php/iraq/29117.html?itemID=5932|title=قناة العهد الفضائية | Al Ahad TV|website=alahad.tv.iq|access-date=2020-01-04|archive-date=2020-01-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104002344/https://alahad.tv.iq/index.php/iraq/29117.html%3FitemID%3D5932|url-status=dead}}
• Liberation of Jurf Al Sakhar{{Cite web|url=http://burathanews.com/arabic/news/241447|title=بابل تقرر إقامة حاجز ترابي شمال المحافظة وتؤكد:استشهاد 16 من عصائب اهل الحق باشتباكات في جرف الصخر|first=علي محسن|last=راضي|date=July 6, 2014|website=وكالة أنباء براثا}}
• Second Battle of Tikrit{{cite web|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/03/in-pictures-shiite-militias-operating-near-tikrit.php|title=In pictures: Shiite militias operating near Tikrit |work=The Long War Journal|author=Caleb Weiss|date=10 March 2015|access-date=8 June 2016}}
• Siege of Fallujah
• Hawija offensive (2017){{Cite web|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/10/iraqi-troops-iranian-backed-militias-eject-islamic-state-from-hawija.php|title=Iraqi troops, Iranian-backed militias eject Islamic State from Hawija | FDD's Long War Journal|date=October 5, 2017|website=www.longwarjournal.org}}
• Battle of Mosul (2016)

• Syrian Civil War
• Battle of Aleppo
• 3rd Rif Dimashq offensive
• Damascus offensive
• 4th Rif Dimashq offensive
• 5th Rif Dimashq offensive
• Aleppo offensive (November–December 2016){{Cite web|url=https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/12/array-of-pro-syrian-government-forces-advance-in-aleppo.php|title=Array of pro-Syrian government forces advances in Aleppo | FDD's Long War Journal|date=December 9, 2016|website=www.longwarjournal.org}}
• 2017 Abu Kamal offensive

• Islamic State insurgency in Iraq (2017–present)
  

• 2023 Israel-Hamas war{{cite web|url=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/iran-update-october-14-2023#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url|archive-url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.understandingwar.org%2Fbackgrounder%2Firan-update-october-14-2023#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-06-15|title=Iran Update, October 14, 2023|author1=Ashka Jhaveri|author2=Annika Ganzeveld|author3=Nicholas Carl|website=wikiwix.com|access-date=11 February 2024}}

{{tree list/end}}

| designated_as_terror_group_by = {{USA}}{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/state-department-terrorist-designations-of-asaib-ahl-al-haq-and-its-leaders-qays-and-laith-al-khazali/|title=State Department Terrorist Designations of Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq and Its Leaders, Qays and Laith al-Khazali|website=U.S. Department of State|date=3 January 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://ar.irna.ir/news/82933205/الفتح-يستنكر-ادراج-العصائب-والنجباء-في-لائحة-الارهاب-الاميركية|title='الفتح' يستنكر ادراج العصائب والنجباء في لائحة الارهاب الاميركية|date=June 2, 2018|website=IRNA Arabic}}
{{UAE}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wam.ae/ar/news/emirates-arab-international/1395272465559.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117230142/http://www.wam.ae/ar/news/emirates-arab-international/1395272465559.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 17, 2014|title=مجلس الوزراء يعتمد قائمة التنظيمات الإرهابية. | WAM|date=November 17, 2014}}

| website = http://ahlualhaq.com

}}

Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq (AAH; {{langx|ar|عصائب أهل الحق}} Aṣaʾib ʾAhl al-Haqq, "League of the Righteous"), also known as the Khazali Network ({{langx|ar|شبكة الخزعلي}}), is an Iraqi Shia Islamist political party and paramilitary organization previously active in the Iraqi insurgency and Syrian Civil War.{{cite news|last1=Sly|first1=Liz|title=Pro-Iran militias' success in Iraq could undermine U.S.|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraqs-pro-iranian-shiite-militias-lead-the-war-against-the-islamic-state/2015/02/15/5bbb1cf0-ac94-11e4-8876-460b1144cbc1_story.html|access-date=10 April 2015|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=15 February 2015}}{{cite news|author=al-Salhy, Suadad |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-iraq-idUSBRE9390OB20130410|title=Iraqi Shi'ite militants start to acknowledge role in Syria|work=Reuters|date=10 April 2013|access-date=10 April 2015}} During the Iraq War it was known as Iraq's largest "Special Group" (the American term for Iranian-backed Shia paramilitaries in Iraq), and it is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in the 41st, 42nd, and 43rd Brigades, cooperating with the Iraqi government in its fight against ISIS.{{cite web |url=http://www.orsam.org.tr/en/enUploads/Article/Files/2015527_198raporengweb.pdf |title=A NEW CONTROVERSIAL ACTOR IN POST-ISIS IRAQ: AL-HASHD AL-SHAABI (THE POPULAR MOBILIZATION FORCES) |access-date=2016-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160409125339/http://www.orsam.org.tr/en/enUploads/Article/Files/2015527_198raporengweb.pdf |archive-date=2016-04-09 }}

AAH is funded, trained, equipped and guided by IRGC's Quds Force and Hezbollah's Unit 3800.{{cite web |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/143 |title=Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq - Mapping Militant Organizations |author=Daniel |access-date=8 June 2016}}[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/iraq-battle-dead-valley-peace-syria Controlled by Iran, the deadly militia recruiting Iraq's men to die in Syria], The Guardian, 12 March 2014{{Cite web |title=Hezbollah’s Regional Activities in Support of Iran’s Proxy Networks |url=https://www.mei.edu/publications/hezbollahs-regional-activities-support-irans-proxy-networks?utm_ |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=Middle East Institute |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Hezbollah in Iraq: A Little Help Can Go a Long Way {{!}} The Washington Institute |url=https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/hezbollah-iraq-little-help-can-go-long-way |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.washingtoninstitute.org |language=en}} Members of AAH, as part of PMF, receive Iraqi government salaries{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} after the PMF units were officially integrated into Iraqi security forces in 2018.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}}

AAH has claimed responsibility for over 6,000 attacks on U.S.-led Coalition forces between 2006 and 2011, seeking to drive U.S. forces out of Iraq.{{cite web|url=http://www.usf-iraq.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=729&Itemid=45 |title="The Insurgency," Operation New Dawn, Official Website of the United States Force-Iraq |access-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129054728/http://www.usf-iraq.com/?option=com_content&task=view&id=729&Itemid=45 |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2014 |title=Latest US Airstrikes In Iraq Supported A Shia Terror Group That Killed Americans |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/latest-us-airstrikes-in-iraq-supported-a-shia-terror-group-that-killed-americans-2014-9?r=US&IR=T |website=Business Insider}} The militia's main tactic was to plant IEDs along the roads used by U.S. forces. These lethal roadside bombs killed and wounded hundreds of Coalition troops. Other tactics include sniper attacks, kidnappings, rocket and RPG attacks. Since 2011, AAH has assassinated Iraqi political opponents, killed civilian protesters{{Unreliable source?|date=January 2024}}, and continued attacks on U.S. diplomatic and military presence.{{Cite web |title=ASA'IB AHL AL-HAQQ (AAH) |url=https://www.dni.gov/nctc/ftos/aah_fto.html |website=DNI.gov}} In 2017, AAH created a party with the same name.{{Cite web|url=http://sumer.news/ar/news/18948/%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%8A%D9%82%D8%A9--%D9%85%D9%81%D9%88%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%B9%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82|title=مدن - بالوثيقة : مفوضية الانتخابات تصدر اجازة تأسيس حزب عصائب اهل الحق - سومر نيوز|website=sumer.news}}

On 3 January 2020, the U.S. Department of State announced its intent to designate AAH a terrorist organization along with two of its leaders,{{cite web |url=https://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/US-sanctions-Iraqs-Asaib-Ahl-al-Haq-group-says-it-is-an-Iran-proxy-613034|title=US sanctions Iraq's Asaib Ahl al-Haq group, says it is an Iran proxy|website=The Jerusalem Post|date=3 January 2020}} Qais al-Khazali and his brother Laith al-Khazali, who were named Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT).