Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba


Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba is an Iraqi Shi'ite paramilitary group that is especially active in Syria. The group is considered an Iranian proxy. It openly receives training, arms, and military advice from Iran. It is part of Iraq's Popular Mobilization Forces, a group of Shi’ite militias that are close to Iran.
HHN has a TV channel named Al-Nujaba TV, which is based in Baghdad, Iraq.
In February 2019, the United States Secretary of State designated Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba and its leader Akram al-Kaabi and Al-Nujaba TV Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

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History

HHN emerged in 2013 as an offshoot of the Iraqi paramilitary Asaib Ahl al-Haq and is led by AAH co-founder Akram al-Kaabi. al-Kaabi said that he formed the militia after a period of militant inactivity in the Syrian Civil War. 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. They have released a nasheed praising Iranian Quds Force commander Qasem Suleimani. Both groups follow the Iranian government's ideology, and al-Kaabi has stated that he would overthrow the Iraqi government or fight alongside the Yemeni Houthis if ordered by Grand Ayatollah Khamenei.
HHN was one of the first Iraqi paramilitaries to send fighters to Syria, where it has been active since its formation in 2013. It has had an increasing role in Syria after a significant boost to recruitment efforts took place in 2015. It was 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 claimed in use with HHN.
In April 2015, al-Kaabi said HHN had suffered 126 casualties, including 38 in Syria.
On 1 January 2019, al-Kaabi said that the IRGC and Lebanese Hezbollah helped the militant Shi'ite forces of the Mahdi Army that were fighting the U.S. forces in 2004. He said that in the 2004 Battle of Najaf, IRGC and Hezbollah officers were present on the ground and helped during the battle, in which 13 US servicemen were killed and over 100 wounded.

Divisions

HHN comprises four brigades: