Kurdish Policy Analysis

Kurdish Policy Analysis

After the unrest in the Middle East and the Gaza war, the Iraqi arena has become a direct and rapid confrontation between the US military and armed groups known as the Islamic Resistance Front in Iraq. The latest challenge was the US and Saudi attack on Hashdi Shaabi headquarters in Iraqi provinces this morning. 20 militants were killed and 32 others wounded.

Why are Hashdi Shaabi headquarters and forces being targeted?

The Pentagon has repeatedly said the bombings are in response to continued missile and drone attacks on US bases and forces in Iraq, Syria and other countries in the region.

Some Hashdi Shaabi groups, such as Hezbollah, the Nujaba Movement, the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigade, and the Ahl al-Haq, are also members of the Islamic Resistance Front in Iraq and attack US targets independently of official duties.

In most air strikes, the United States uses drones to target Hashd commanders and military officials or groups accused of planning or carrying out attacks on US troops, according to Washington intelligence agencies.

A few days ago, Centcom said armed groups had carried out more than 600 attacks on US bases and headquarters.

US veto on political participation of Hashdi Shaabi

Before the formation of the new Iraqi cabinet, the main condition of the United States was not to participate in the armed groups belonging to Hashdi Shaabi in the government, and insisted on the dissolution of these groups and merge them with the Iraqi military forces.

Three armed groups have so far disbanded, while several others have refused to lay down arms, believing they must have weapons to defend themselves. 

What are the Hashdi Shaabi groups?

On June 13, 2014, after the fall of Mosul and most Iraqi provinces to ISIS, Supreme Shiite Marja'i Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani issued a fatwa calling for thousands of Shiite youth and other communities to take up arms to fight ISIS.

In 2016, the Iraqi parliament passed the Hashdi Shaabi Board Law No. 40, according to which the Hashdi Shaabi became an official military force under the General Command of the Iraqi Armed Forces, but still has its own command and strategic independence.

Number of fighters and budget of Hashdi Shaabi

The number of Hashdi Shaabi fighters has been growing steadily. According to official figures from the Iraqi budget law, the number of employees of the Hashdi Shaabi is estimated at between 200,000 and 238,0

The Hashdi Shaabi brigades, regiments and fronts consist of more than 67 to 70 military brigades distributed throughout Iraq. 

ideology and group loyalty

The groups in Hashd al-Shaabi are not one piece, but divided into three to four main political and intellectual movements.

1- Provincial groups (close to Iran / Defense Front)

These groups see the direct command of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards (Quds Corps) as the marja'a and are a key part of the force known as the "Islamic Defense Front.

Badr: Led by Hadi Amiri, has the largest number of brigades in Hashd.

Ahl al-Haq: led by Qais al-Khazzali.

Hezbollah brigade: The strongest and most extremist armed group belongs to this direction.

Nujaba Movement: Led by Akram Kaabi.

Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigade: Led by Abu Ala Walai.

Imam Ali's brigade.

2. Hashdi Shaabi groups close to Sistani

These groups consider themselves to be followers of Sistani's fatwa and have nothing to do with Iran. Since 2020, they have separated themselves from the Hashd command and are directly under the Iraqi Defense Ministry.

Ali Akbar's Brigade

Abbas Division for Qital

Ansar al-Marja'iyah Brigade

Lieutenant Forsan Altef

3. Groups belonging to the Sadr movement

Saraya Salam: This group is led by Muqtada al-Sadr and commands the 313th and 314th brigades, but recently disbanded and joined the Iraqi security forces.

4- Hashd of communities and minorities (Sunni, Christian, Shabak, Yezidi and Turkmen)

They coordinate with the government in their areas.

The tribal (Sunni) Hashdi has more than 40,000 to 50,000 Sunni fighters in Anbar, Nineveh and Salahaddin.

Babylon Brigade (Christians - 50th Brigade) commanded by Rayan Chaldean.

The 30th Brigade (Nineveh Plain Forces - Shabak) is stationed in the Nineveh Plain.

Turkmen Brigades 52nd and 53rd Brigades in Tala'afar and Tuz Khurmatu.

Lalsh Brigade and Sinjar (Yezidi) forces.

Leadership of the Hashdi Shaabi Board

Faleh Fayyad currently heads the Hashdi Shaabi board, while Abdul Aziz Mahmadawi, a former senior commander of Hezbollah battalions, replaced Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

With tens of thousands of trained fighters, heavy weapons, independent revenue from the state budget and a political wing in parliament and the cabinet, the Hashd al-Shaabi has become an institution that cannot make any decisive security or political decisions in Iraq without its consent. Despite pressure from Western countries, especially the United States, to disband or integrate it completely into the army, the body is deepening its roots in the structure of the Iraqi state.

At least 20 fighters have been killed and 32 others wounded in joint US-Saudi attacks on Iraqi Hashdi Shaabi headquarters in several Iraqi provinces, the Iraqi armed forces said.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026, the joint US and Saudi attacks targeted the official headquarters of the Hashdi Shaabi in the provinces of Baghdad, Wasit, Nineveh, Basra, Kirkuk, Karbala and Diyala.

At least 20 militants were killed and 32 others wounded in joint US-Saudi attacks on their official headquarters in several Iraqi provinces, he said.

"In addition to casualties, the attacks caused various material damage to some of the headquarters, vehicles and military equipment of the committee," the statement said.

The Hashdi Shaabi Board said that their special committees continue their field work to assess and statistics of all the damage and the total information.

Hashd stressed that the announcement of the number of dead and wounded are preliminary figures and as the search process continues and the completion of field reports, the number of casualties is likely to increase.

Further Reading

For more on the growing debate over Iraq's armed factions, read our previous analysis: "US-Saudi airstrikes rock Iraq: Hashd al-Shaabi reports heavy losses in unprecedented multi-province attack."

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