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Jihad IntelProfiles of jihadist groups, with designation status current as of October 12, 2026

Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Saraya Aqa'idiyun

Designation Status (as of October 12, 2026)

US State Dept FTONot listed official list
US Treasury OFAC SDN (SDGT)Not listed official list
UK ProscribedNot listed official list
EU Terrorist ListsNot listed official list
Canada Listed EntitiesNot listed official list
Australia ListedNot listed official list

Official lists as of October 12, 2026. Listing names are quoted as the list gives them. What changed since 2018

Profile written 2014 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

Saraya Aqa'idiyun ("Brigades of those of ideology/doctrine") is a Shi'a militia in Iraq, officially the military wing of the "Harakat Aqa'idiyun al-Islamiya" and mainly based in Basra. The militia's formation was announced in the summer of 2014 on account of Iraq's security crisis and the "falling of areas into the hands of terrorism," besides answering the call for mobilization from the religious marja'iya in Najaf. The group also called for the training of new recruits. Areas of operation claimed by Saraya Aqa'idiyun have included the Baghdad Belt and Jurf al-Sakhr. Ideologically, the militia's orientation is anti-American, declaring on its Facebook page: "We don't fear America, Israel or any land. Labbayk ya qa'im Al Muhammad."

Saraya Aqa'idiyun may have had a role via a prior manifestation through its 'political wing' in Shi'a militia deployments to Syria. In a Facebook post in August 2014, the group wrote: "Saraya Aqa'idiyun: just as we fought and defended our lord Sayyida Zainab, today we fight in defence of the holy sites. Labbayk ya Zainab. Labbayk ya Hussein."