US designates four ‘Iran-aligned militia groups’ in Iraq as terrorist groups

NEWSROOM — The United States on Wednesday designated four Iran-aligned militias operating in Iraq as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, citing their role in attacks on American and coalition targets.

The groups—Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali—were already listed as Specially Designated Global Terrorists.

“Today, the Department of State is designating Iran-aligned militia groups Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib al-Imam Ali as Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” the State Department said in a statement.

The department said Iran, which it called “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” provides ongoing support to the groups, enabling them to “plan, facilitate, or directly carry out attacks across Iraq.” It said the militias have targeted the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting American and coalition forces, “typically using front names or proxy groups to obfuscate their involvement.”

The announcement followed President Donald Trump’s National Security Presidential Memorandum-2, which the State Department said “mandates maximum pressure on Iran to cut off revenue to the regime and its terrorist proxies and partners.”

“The United States will continue using all available tools to protect our national security interests and deny funding and resources to terrorists,” the statement said.