The Hezbollah Movement in Iraq, also known as the Jihad and Construction Movement , is a Shi'a Islamist Iraqi political party that is part of the United Iraqi Alliance coalition. It is not affiliated with the Lebanese group Hezbollah or other groups using the name. Hezbollah or Hizb Allah means "Party of God" in Arabic. The party publishes the Al-Bayyna newspaper and is led by Hassan Al-Sari. Hezbollah originated as an underground anti-Saddam network. Unlike other anti-Saddam groups it remained based in Iraq, not setting up shop in Iran or the West. The party is closely aligned to the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.

History

Post-invasion

Following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the Hezbollah Movement seized buildings formerly used by the Iraqi General Intelligence Service in the al-Alwiya neighborhood of Baghdad. On 16 August 2004, INIS & Major Crimes Directorate personnel raided the building with support from forces wearing American clothing. Conflicting reports identified the forces as either the Iraqi National Guard or U.S. forces. Present Hezbollah staff and officials, including Secretary-General Hassan Al-Sari, were arrested and detained for periods ranging from 10 days to 2 months. During this time they were interrogated over the group's links to Iran.