As a member of the Mujahideen Shura Council, al-Ahwal Brigades can be considered a highly active insurgent group in Iraq.  Although the group is not thought to be a major player within the council, the MSC has claimed credit for dozens of attacks since its foundation and is bar-none the most major terrorist threat in Iraq today.

Al-Ahwaz Arab Popular Democratic Front, Arab People's Democratic Front, Democratic Popular Front for the Arab People of Ahwaz

<a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=IR">Iran</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=UK">United Kingdom</a>

Despite proclaiming its independence from Western states, one of the primary purposes of the group at this point seems to be courting the attention of foreign governments and international NGOs. Leaders of the group seem to have formed relationships with officials in at least a few Western countries including Britain, France, and Canada. They also continue to investigate and report on what they consider to be grave human rights violations in Khuzestan. It is extremely likely that the group also continues to have a hand in separatist violence in the region. It is unclear, however, whether members of the group directly participate in the violence or merely support it indirectly.

Badr Forces -- Splinter Group (Suspected)

<a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=IS">Israel</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=8">West Bank/Gaza</a>

Reports have linked al-Fatah and Yasir Arafat to financial payments to the group

Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is an active terrorist organization committed to the creation of a Palestinian nation-state.  The brigade is comprised of an unknown number of small militias, or cells.  While never officially recognized by al-Fatah or its former leader Yasir Arafat, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is predominantly comprised of terrorists who also belong to al-Fatah.  There have been reports that Arafat approved payments to al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.  In 2000, the brigades began to operate separately from al-Fatah and have been a significant factor in the current intifada.  <P><br /><br />Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade is a secular, nationalist terrorist group. While the organization does not seek to create an Islamic state, it does use Islamic themes in its campaign. An example would be its self-appointed name, which refers to the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. The group's specific objectives are to drive Israelis from the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and Jerusalem. These areas would then become a Palestinian nation-state. At the outset, al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade expressly targeted Israeli settlers and security forces in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, the group soon expanded its targets to include citizens in Israeli cities and Palestinians suspected of collaboration with Israel.