The group was created in 2013 as a political group in
Maysan Governorate calling themselves Kayan al-Sadiq wa al-Ataa before becoming a brigade of the Iraqi-state sponsored
Popular Mobilization Forces under the name of the 19th PMF Brigade in 2014. The group still remain active politically, separate from its militant actions, under the named Harakat al-Sadiq wa al-Ataa. The group targeted many bases and soldiers of the
U.S. military and the
Syrian Democratic Forces. The group has also attacked
The Global Coalition in order to attack
Islamic State forces in both Syria and Iraq. The group has also been described as an ally of the
Quds Force of the
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps by doing attacks on their behalf. The group allegedly had links to many kidnappings and murders of protesters during the 2019
Tishreen movement including the kidnapping of prominent leaders like Sajad al-Iraqi and Ali Jasb. The group has publicly threatened to terrorize Iraqi civilians who support the United States as a way to undermine what it calls "American interests in Iraq". The United States has claimed that the group had involvement in the
Tower 22 drone attack against a U.S. base in Jordan in which 3 U.S. soldiers were killed and 34 were injured. On June 17, 2024, the
United States Department of State designated the group as a terrorist organization and the leader of the group, Haydar Muzhir Ma'lak al-Sa'idi, as a
specially designated terrorist for their targeting of U.S. bases in the Middle East and the involvement of strikes against
Israel during the
Gaza war with many of the strikes coming from south
Baghdad. On 18 September 2025, the U.S. Department of State also designated Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya and its aliases as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. In response to the terrorist designation, the leader of the group mocked the United States by stating that the designation was a "badge of honor". On April 27, 2026,
Rewards for Justice announced a $10 million reward for information on al-Sa'idi, also known as Haydar al-Gharawi. == References ==