The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 2018 to 2025 Middle East
Terrorist group(s) Iraq, in 8 editions.
The entry for Iraq published Terrorist group(s) in 8 editions of 36, from 2018 to 2025. The text changed in 6 editions. Each is shown as published. Terrorist group(s) in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 6
- the first edition with it
- 2018
- the latest edition with it
- 2025
Published as “Terrorist groups - home based” (2018 to 2019), “Terrorist groups - foreign based” (2018 to 2019) and “Terrorist group(s)” (2020 to 2025).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2025 edition
Changed since 2024Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”
- Ansar al-Islam (AAI):
- aim(s): expel western interests from Iraq and, ultimately, establish an independent Iraqi state operating according to its interpretation of sharia
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in northern Iraq with its largest presence in Kirkuk, Tikrit, and Mosul; active in the western and central regions of the country
note: majority of members are Iraqi Kurds or Iraqi Arabs who are Sunni Muslim (April 2018)
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN):
- aim(s): end external influence in Iraq and, ultimately, overthrow the Government of Iraq to install a secular Ba'athist state within the internationally recognized borders of Iraq
- area(s) of operation:
- attacks separatist Kurdish groups, Iraqi Government military and security forces and facilities, and foreign military personnel (April 2018)
- Kata'ib Hizballah (KH):
- aim(s): counter US influence and, ultimately, overthrow the Iraqi Government to install a government based on Shia Muslim laws and precepts
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Shia Muslim areas of Baghdad, with fighters active in Ninawa, Al Anbar, and Babil governorates (April 2018)
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):
- aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy and security goals in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria
- area(s) of operation:
- operational in the north and east, with its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains;
- majority of members inside Iraq are Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Syria (April 2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS):
- aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria;
- expand its branches and networks in other countries;
- rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law
- area(s) of operation:
- operational in the rural and desert areas of central and northern Iraq, primarily within and near Sunni populations, with some presence in major population areas (April 2018)
Ansar al-Islam (AAI): aim(s): expel western interests from Iraq and, ultimately, establish an independent Iraqi state operating according to its interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: headquartered in northern Iraq with its largest presence in Kirkuk, Tikrit, and Mosul; active in the western and central regions of the country
note: majority of members are Iraqi Kurds or Iraqi Arabs who are Sunni Muslim (April 2018)
Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN): aim(s): end external influence in Iraq and, ultimately, overthrow the Government of Iraq to install a secular Ba'athist state within the internationally recognized borders of Iraq
area(s) of operation: attacks separatist Kurdish groups, Iraqi Government military and security forces and facilities, and foreign military personnel (April 2018)
Kata'ib Hizballah (KH): aim(s): counter US influence and, ultimately, overthrow the Iraqi Government to install a government based on Shia Muslim laws and precepts
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Shia Muslim areas of Baghdad, with fighters active in Ninawa, Al Anbar, and Babil governorates (April 2018)
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK): aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy and security goals in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria
area(s) of operation: operational in the north and east, with its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains; majority of members inside Iraq are Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Syria (April 2018)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS): aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria; expand its branches and networks in other countries; rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law
area(s) of operation: operational in the rural and desert areas of central and northern Iraq, primarily within and near Sunni populations, with some presence in major population areas (April 2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - home based”
- Ansar al-Islam (AAI):
- aim(s): expel western interests from Iraq and, ultimately, establish an independent Iraqi state operating according to its interpretation of sharia
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in northern Iraq with its largest presence in Kirkuk, Tikrit, and Mosul; active in the western and central regions of the country
note: majority of members are Iraqi Kurds or Iraqi Arabs who are Sunni Muslim (2018)
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN):
- aim(s): end external influence in Iraq and, ultimately, overthrow the Government of Iraq to install a secular Ba'athist state within the internationally recognized borders of Iraq
- area(s) of operation:
- attacks separatist Kurdish groups, Iraqi Government military and security forces and facilities, and foreign military personnel (2018)
- Kata'ib Hizballah (KH):
- aim(s): counter US influence and, ultimately, overthrow the Iraqi Government to install a government based on Shia Muslim laws and precepts
- area(s) of operation:
- headquartered in the Shia Muslim areas of Baghdad, with fighters active in Ninawa, Al Anbar, and Babil governorates (2018)
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK):
- aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy and security goals in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria
- area(s) of operation:
- operational in the north and east, with its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains;
- majority of members inside Iraq are Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Syria (2018)
Published as “Terrorist groups - foreign based”
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Qods Force (IRGC-QF): aim(s): back Iraq’s pro-government Shia militias by supplying two battalions of IRGC forces to jointly engage in combat against ISIS;
- provide weapons and munitions to Shia militants targeting US forces
- area(s) of operations:
- Baghdad,
- Basrah,
- Karbala,
- Mosul,
- Samarra,
- Tikrit (2019)
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS):
- aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria;
- expand its branches and networks in other countries;
- rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law
- area(s) of operation:
- operational in the rural and desert areas of central and northern Iraq, primarily within and near Sunni populations, with some presence in major population areas (2018)
Ansar al-Islam (AAI): aim(s): expel western interests from Iraq and, ultimately, establish an independent Iraqi state operating according to its interpretation of sharia
area(s) of operation: headquartered in northern Iraq with its largest presence in Kirkuk, Tikrit, and Mosul; active in the western and central regions of the country
note: majority of members are Iraqi Kurds or Iraqi Arabs who are Sunni Muslim (April 2018) (2018)
Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi (JRTN): aim(s): end external influence in Iraq and, ultimately, overthrow the Government of Iraq to install a secular Ba'athist state within the internationally recognized borders of Iraq
area(s) of operation: attacks separatist Kurdish groups, Iraqi Government military and security forces and facilities, and foreign military personnel (April 2018) (2018)
Kata'ib Hizballah (KH): aim(s): counter US influence and, ultimately, overthrow the Iraqi Government to install a government based on Shia Muslim laws and precepts
area(s) of operation: headquartered in the Shia Muslim areas of Baghdad, with fighters active in Ninawa, Al Anbar, and Babil governorates (April 2018) (2018)
Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK): aim(s): advance Kurdish autonomy and security goals in Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and Syria
area(s) of operation: operational in the north and east, with its stronghold in the Qandil Mountains; majority of members inside Iraq are Iraqi, Turkish, and Iranian Kurds, along with Kurds from Syria (April 2018) (2018)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps -- Qods Force (IRGC-QF): aim(s): back Iraq’s pro-government Shia militias by supplying two battalions of IRGC forces to jointly engage in combat against ISIS; provide weapons and munitions to Shia militants targeting US forces
area(s) of operations: Baghdad, Basrah, Karbala, Mosul, Samarra, Tikrit (2019)
Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS): aim(s): replace the world order with a global Islamic state based in Iraq and Syria; expand its branches and networks in other countries; rule according to ISIS's strict interpretation of Islamic law
area(s) of operation: operational in the rural and desert areas of central and northern Iraq, primarily within and near Sunni populations, with some presence in major population areas (April 2018) (2018)
- Ansar al-Islam;
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham;
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi;
- Kata'ib Hizballah;
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Rewritten: too little of the 2019 text remains to mark the changes.
Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
- Ansar al-Islam;
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi;
- Kata'ib Hizballah;
- Kurdistan Workers' Party
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham; ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (2019)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
The same text in 2022 and 2023.
- Ansar al-Islam;
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi;
- Kata'ib Hizballah;
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps/Qods Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T
- Ansar al-Islam;
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force;
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi;
- Kata'ib Hizballah;
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in Appendix-T the Terrorism reference guide
- Ansar al-Islam;
- Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq;
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force;
- Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN);
- Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA);
- Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS);
- Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi;
- Kata'ib Hizballah;
- Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA);
- Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS);
- Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
Ansar al-Islam; Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq; Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)/Qods Force; Harakat al-Nujaba (HAN); Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya (HAAA); Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS); Jaysh Rijal al-Tariq al-Naqshabandi; Kata'ib Hizballah; Kata’ib al-Imam Ali (KIA); Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada (KSS); Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)
note: details about the history, aims, leadership, organization, areas of operation, tactics, targets, weapons, size, and sources of support of the group(s) appear(s) in the Terrorism reference guide
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Iraq: Terrorist group(s).” The World Factbook, 2018–2025 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/iraq/terrorist-group-s.