Al-Jaysh al-Islami fil-Iraq (the Islamic Army in Iraq)
Thirteen brigades have claimed allegiance to this group. Widely seen as one of the more nationalistic armed groups. Members thought to be veterans of Saddam’s military security forces.
Key action: numerous kidnappings; sniper shootings of US soldiers
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The 1920 Revolution Brigade
Thought to be made up of veterans of Saddam’s security forces. Highly active in central Iraq.
Key action: shooting-down of British Hercules killing ten near Tikrit, January 2005
Baath Party
Thought by Shia politicians to be chief component of insurgency. Main branch headed by Saddam’s former Vice-President Ezzat Ibrahim al-Duri. Said to have links to Islamic Army and the 1920 Brigade.
Key action: Implicated in the bombing at the UN Baghdad headquarters that killed 17 people in August 2003
THE ABSENTEES
Tandhim al-Qaeda fi Bilad al-Rafidayn (al-Qaeda’s Organisation in Mesopotamia)
Founded by al-Zarqawi, it claims to have 15 brigades, and at least 12,000 fighters
Key action: bombing of Shia al-Askri shrine in Samarra, February 2006
Jaysh Ansar al-Sunna (Partisans of the Sunna Army)
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Offshoot of Jaysh Ansar al-Islam (the Partisans of Islam Army), previously based in Iraqi Kurdistan. Claims to have 16 brigades.
Key action: Suicide bombing that killed 22 inside US Army cafeteria, Mosul, December 2004
SHIA GROUPS
Al-Mahdi Army
Shia militia of the anti-Western cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Implicated in death squad killings and kidnappings of Sunnis.
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Key action: Allegedly responsible for last week’s kidnap of up to 150 at Education Ministry
The Badr Corps or Badr Brigade
Militia of the powerful Shia political party, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq. Denies that it is still armed, but it has been implicated by Western officials in death squad killings of Sunnis, notably through the Interior Ministry.
Key action: Blamed for starting Shia death squads