| Harakat al-Abdal | |
|---|---|
| حركة الأبدال | |
| Other name | 39th Brigade |
| Dates active | 2014 – present |
| Country |  Iraq |
| Allegiance |  Popular Mobilization Forces |
| Headquarters | Baghdad |
| Active regions | Iraq Syria (Until 2024) |
| Ideology | Shiism |
| Part of | Axis of Resistance |
| Wars | |
Harakat al-Abdal (Arabic: حركة الأبدال, romanized: Harakat al-Abdal, lit. 'The Replacements Movement') is a pro-Iranian Shia militant group in Iraq, affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces. The group fought in the Syrian civil war.
History
Foundation
The group was founded in 2014, after the Islamic State invasion of Iraq, in southern Iraq to battle against the Islamic State, in addition to adopting the Velayat-e faqih.[1]
Activities
On January 5, 2016, Liwa Assad Allah al-Ghalib fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham, a Shia militant group, announced that after negotiations, the group had joined within Harakat al-Abdal.[1] The group has been announcing operations in Syria through the media. These operations took place in Aleppo in 2016, where a large number of Shiite militias participated in the efforts led by Qassem Soleimani to break the Siege of Nubl and al-Zahraa.[2] The group participated in the Operation Dawn of Victory, along with other contingents of Iraqi militias.[3] During the Syrian Desert campaign, the group launched several attacks towards Al-Tanf along with other Iraqi, Lebanese and Syrian militias such as Hezbollah.[4] The group is part of the Popular Mobilization Forces such as the "39th Brigade".[5]
Leadership
The leader of Harakat al-Abdal is Abu Akram al-Majidi, al-Majdi visited hospitals in Iran to check on the health of wounded fighters.[6]
References
- "How Iran Is Building Its Syrian Hezbollah | The Washington Institute". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- "Harakat al-Abdal". Jihad Intel. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- Toumaj, Amir (9 December 2016). "Array of pro-Syrian government forces advances in Aleppo". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
- Toumaj, Amir; Weiss, Caleb (3 June 2017). "Iran tests the US in southeastern Syria". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (31 October 2017). "Hashd Brigade Numbers Index". Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
- "مطالبات سياسية وشعبية بعدم شمول ميليشيات الحشد الموالية لإيران بالموازنة العراقية – شبكة اخبار العراق". 29 September 2019. Retrieved 17 May 2026.