| Kata'ib al-Imam Ali | |
|---|---|
| كتائب الإمام علي | |
 Kata'ib al-Imam Ali logo | |
| Leaders |
|
| Dates of operation | June 2014 – present[2] |
| Allegiance |  Iraq (nominal) Iran (IRGC) |
| Group | |
| Active regions | Iraq Syria |
| Ideology | ShiaIslamism[2] Wilayat al Faqih Anti-Americanism[2] Anti-Zionism |
| Part of |
|
| Allies | State allies
Non-state allies |
| Opponents |  Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant Peshmerga (since 2017)[8] |
| Battles and wars | |
Kata'ib al-Imam Ali (Arabic:كتائب الإمام علي,romanized: Kataʾib al-ʾImām ʿAlī,lit. 'Imam Ali Battalion'), also known as theImam Ali Brigades, are an IraqiShiite paramilitary organization and the armed wing of the Islamic Movement of Iraq (Harakat al-Iraq al-Islamiyah), and serves as part of the umbrella organization,Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF). Kata'ib al-Imam Ali rose to prominence during theWar in Iraq (2013–2017), when it fought against theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) alongside Iraqi government forces.[14]
Kata'ib al-Imam Ali came into existence in June 2014 as the armed wing of the Harakat al-Iraq al-Islamiyah (Movement of the Islamic Iraq) party. While its emergence was linked to the large-scale Shia mobilization after the escalation of Iraq's Sunni Arabinsurgency into a full-out civil war, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali is closely connected to older Iraqi Shia Islamist organizations, parties and militias, as well as to the IranianQuds Force. The group's secretary general Shibl al-Zaydi is affiliated with theSadrist Movement, and was at one point member of theanti-AmericanMahdi Army. Kata'ib al-Imam Ali also appears to enjoy the favour ofAbu Mahdi al-Muhandis, leader of the Popular Mobilization Forces, who has at times even personally led the group into battle. Thanks to these links, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali is well-equipped and has been able to recruit veteran militants, allowing a "meteoric growth".[1][2]
Notably, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali has also attempted to rallyChristian Assyrians to its cause since its formation, based on a purported affinity between Shia Islam and Christians and the supposed betrayal of the Iraqi Christians byIraqi Kurdistan in course of theFall of Mosul. In line with these attempts, the group formed its own, though minor, Christian unit, theKataib Rouh Allah Issa Ibn Miriam, or "Spirit of God Jesus Son of Mary Battalions".[3]
In late 2014, one of the group's commanders,Abu Azrael, gained prominence after appearing in the media armed with axes, swords and machine guns.[15]
In 2015, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali began to send its fighters toSyria, allegedly to protect theSayyidah Zaynab Shrine,[1] and participated in theSecond Battle of Tikrit.[9] In early 2016, its fighters were involved in theSyrian government offensive to reconquerPalmyra andTadmur from ISIL,[11] and later that year, Kata'ib al-Imam Ali took part in theBattle of Mosul[10] and theAleppo offensive (November–December 2016).[12]
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