Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations
Kata'ib al-Imam al-Gha'ib
Designation Status (as of October 12, 2026)
| US State Dept FTO | Not listed official list |
|---|---|
| US Treasury OFAC SDN (SDGT) | Not listed official list |
| UK Proscribed | Not listed official list |
| EU Terrorist Lists | Not listed official list |
| Canada Listed Entities | Not listed official list |
| Australia Listed | Not listed official list |
Profile written 2015 The profile below is the original Jihad Intel text and has not been updated. Designation status above is current.
Not yet designated terrorist by a Western country
Base of operations: Iraq
Kata'ib al-Imam al-Gha'ib ('The Absent Imam Battalions', with 'al-Imam al-Gha'ib' referring to Imam Mehdi in Shi'a Islam) is a Shi'a militia operating in Iraq. Like 'Hezbollah the Mujahideen in Iraq' et al., it identifies as a 'Hezbollah' brand, using the group's imagery in some of its symbols, and members have been seen holding a portrait of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. The exact relationship with the more well-known Iranian proxy Kata'ib Hezbollah is unclear. According to one Kata'ib al-Imam al-Gha'ib source, there was a link between Kata'ib al-Imam al-Gha'ib and "[Kata'ib] Hezbollah" but as of January 2015 has now become an independent group. The most notable claimed areas of operation have been Fallujah and Samarra. The leader is one "Abu Dhir al-Fiqar."
