Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas

Not yet designated terrorist by a Western country

Base of operations: Syria, Iraq

Background: What is the Liwa Abu Fadl al-Abbas?

Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas (The Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade) is a Shi'a militia that is best known for its operations in Syria since fall 2012 as part of a narrative of defending the Sayyida Zainab shrine in Damascus. It has drawn on manpower from Iranian proxy militia networks in Iraq and has an affinity with Hezbollah in Lebanon, suggesting a movement close to Iran ideologically. It is named after the son of Imam Ali. In 2014 there emerged an "Iraq Formation" taking after the group's name as part of a wider Shi'a militia mobilization against the renewed Sunni Arab insurgency in Iraq. However, that "Iraq Formation" has been officially disavowed by the original Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas, which has since featured its own Iraq wing by the name of "Suqur al-Imam al-Mahdi" ("Imam Mahdi Falcons").

Many figures in the original Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas network moved on to create and lead their own brands and formations, such as Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib and the Rapid Intervention Regiment.

Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas	Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Armpatch	Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Emblem	Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Emblem
Liwa Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas: Suqur al-Imam al-Mahdi