The Department of State has designated Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA) and its Secretary General, Haydar Muzhir Ma’lak al-Sa’idi, as Specially Designated Global Terrorists. HAAA is an Iraq-based militia group aligned with Iran and is part of the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq (IRI)," a coalition that includes several Iran-aligned terrorist organizations such as Kata’ib Hizballah, Harakat al-Nujaba, and Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada. These groups have been responsible for multiple attacks on Global Coalition forces in Iraq and Syria.
The IRI has claimed responsibility for numerous recent attacks against U.S. military personnel in Iraq and Syria, including a January drone attack that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members at Tower 22 in Jordan. HAAA was involved in this attack and has publicly threatened to continue targeting U.S. interests in the region. Additionally, HAAA has been accused of terrorizing Iraqi civilians.
"The United States remains committed to using all available tools to counter Iran’s support for terrorism and to degrade and disrupt the ability of Iran-backed groups to conduct terrorist attacks," stated Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson.
Today's actions are being taken under Executive Order 13224, as amended. For more information on these actions, refer to the Department of State's Fact Sheet.
