Akram al-Kaabi

Akram al-Kaabi (Arabic: أكرم الكعبي; born 17 July 1977) is the founder and secretary general of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba (HHN) in Iraq.[1] He is regarded as one of the main operatives of IRGC's Quds Force in Iraq.

Akram al-Kaabi
أكرم الكعبي
Secretary-General of Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
Assumed office
2013
Personal details
Born (1977-07-17) 17 July 1977
Amarah, Ba'athist Iraq
Military service
Allegiance Iraq
Branch/serviceMahdi Army
Popular Mobilization Forces
UnitHarakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba
Battles/warsIraq War
Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)

Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba emerged in 2013 as an offshoot of the Iraqi Shiite militia group Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq.[2]

History
Akram al-Kaabi had said that after the defeat of ISIS in Mosul, his forces would leave Iraq for Syria[3].

Kaabi started as a commander in the Sadrist Mahdi Army after the 2003 U.S. invasion of Iraq, where he planned and led attacks against Iraqi and U.S.-led Coalition forces with training and funding from Iran's Quds Force. After forming Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq in July 2006, Kaabi became the deputy leader.[1] In an interview with Long War Journal, Kaabi stated he would overthrow the Iraqi government if ordered by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.[4] Kaabi formed HHN militia in 2013 in response to the rise of ISIS in Syria, calling for Iraqi Shi'ite militias to travel to Syria and fight on the behalf of the Assad regime.

Sanctions

On 16 September 2008, the U.S. Department of the Treasury designated Akram al-Kaabi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) "for threatening the peace and stability of Iraq."[5]

On 5 March 2019, the U.S. Department of State designated Kaabi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order 13224.[1]

Notes
  1. "Akram Al-Kaabi". Counter Extremism Project. 30 January 2020.
  2. "Iraq's Shiite forces claim victory over IS". Al-Monitor. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2016.
  3. "Iran-Backed Iraqi Militia Group Launches New Brigade to "Liberate" Golan Heights". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  4. "Iraqi Shiite militia leader says he would overthrow government if ordered by Iran's supreme leader | FDD's Long War Journal". www.longwarjournal.org.
  5. "Treasury Designates Individuals and Entities Fueling Violence in Iraq". treasury.gov. 16 September 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2011.
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