Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq

Not yet designated terrorist by a Western country.
Base of operations: Iraq

Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq ('First Martyr Battalions: al-Buraq Forces') is a Shi'a militia that emerged as part of the wider 'Popular Mobilization' (al-hashad al-sha'abi) trend in Iraq since June 2014. It is led by Wathiq al-Firtousi and is not to be confused with 'Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal'. It is known to operate at the Ayn al-Asad airbase in western Anbar and other areas near the borders with Syria and Jordan (e.g. Rutba and Trebil areas).

According to Firtousi, the formation constitutes the 19th brigade of the Popular Mobilization. He also affirms that there is an affiliation with the militia Ansar Allah al-Awfiya', which is pro-Iranian in outlook. The links have been made clearer on social media in 2016 (e.g. see here).

Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq Emblem	Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq Martyrdom Poster	Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq: Flag and Armpatches	Kata'ib al-Shaheed al-Awal: Quwat al-Buraq: Wathiq al-Firtousi