| Native name | حركة الأبدال |
|---|---|
| Other name | 39th Brigade |
| Active | 2014 – present |
| Allegiance | Popular Mobilization Forces |
| Headquarters | Baghdad |
| Area | (Until 2024) |
| Ideology | Shiism |
| Partof | Axis of Resistance |
| Allies | Hezbollah Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham Houthis[1] |
| Opponents | Islamic State Free Syrian Army |
| War |
Harakat al-Abdal (Arabic: حركة الأبدال) is a pro-Iranian Shia militant group in Iraq, affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces. The group fought in the Syrian civil war.
History
Foundation
The group was founded in 2014, after the Islamic State invasion of Iraq, in southern Iraq to battle against the Islamic State, in addition to adopting the Velayat-e faqih.[2]
Activities
On January 5, 2016, Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham, a Shia militant group, announced that after negotiations, the group had joined within Harakat al-Abdal.[2] The group has been announcing operations in Syria through the media. These operations took place in Aleppo in 2016, where a large number of Shiite militias participated in the efforts led by Qassem Soleimani to break the Siege of Nubl and al-Zahraa.[3] The group participated in the Operation Dawn of Victory, along with other contingents of Iraqi militias.[4] During the Syrian Desert campaign, the group launched several attacks towards Al-Tanf along with other Iraqi, Lebanese and Syrian militias such as Hezbollah.[5] The group is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces such as the "39th Brigade".[6]
Leadership
The leader of Harakat al-Abdal is Abu Akram al-Majidi, al-Majdi visited hospitals in Iran to check on the health of wounded fighters.[7]
References
- ^ Weiss, Caleb (26 April 2018). "IRGC network eulogizes slain top Yemeni Houthi official". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "How Iran Is Building Its Syrian Hezbollah | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ "Harakat al-Abdal". Jihad Intel. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Toumaj, Amir (2016-12-09). "Array of pro-Syrian government forces advances in Aleppo". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 2026-05-17.
- ^ Toumaj, Amir & Weiss, Caleb (3 June 2017). "Iran tests the US in southeastern Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (31 October 2017). "Hashd Brigade Numbers Index". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- ^ "مطالبات سياسية وشعبية بعدم شمول ميليشيات الحشد الموالية لإيران بالموازنة العراقية – شبكة اخبار العراق". 2019-09-29. Retrieved 2026-05-17.