Armed Islamic Group of Al-Qaida, Fallujah Branch: This Muslim group with many foreign fighters appeared on the scene in July, 2003 and may be led by Afghan war veteran Abu Iyad. They claimed responsibility for “all” the armed resistance against US forces in Iraq in a four-minute videotape aired on the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya satellite television station on July 13, 2003. The group denies any affiliation with Saddam Hussein and was the first Iraqi group purporting links to Osama Bin Laden's Al-Qaida. In their taped address, they encouraged the United States to "leave Iraq's territories and to live up to their promises". The taped address warned of more attacks that would aim to "break America's back." The speaker on the tape purportedly resembled Abu Iyad, who the US claims is a member of Al-Qaida, but there is no concrete evidence to this claim. European governments often refer to Iyad simply as a Muslim mujahideen. Iyad, who lost a leg in the Afghan war with the Russians, has also fought in the Chechen jihad and was last positively identified in the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia in Spring 2002. A report issued on April 20, 2003 from the “Headquarters of the Arab Mujahideen in Iraq” was signed by Abu Iyad, which may indicate that Iyad is one of the top commanders of the foreign mujahideen in Iraq and if he has not previously had links to Al-Qaida, he may have recently been recruited by the group.

Armed Vanguard of Mohammed's Second Army (AVMSA): Possibly based around Ramadi and Fallujah, this group of Saddam loyalists who also claim to be Arab Sunni Muslims committed to jihad. Appearing on August 22, 2003, the group may maintain at least communication links with Mohammed's Army. According to their statement issued after the UN Bombing, for which they claimed responsibility, the group swore to "continue to fight every foreigner until……victory or martyrdom" and to "make the Americans regret their occupation of Mohammed's land”. The group also vowed to "carry out similar attacks against the agent Governing Council and all coalition forces" and aimed to expand the conflict outside Iraq if possible as evidenced by their comment, "God willing, we will reach America and Britain themselves."

Army of Right: Little is known of this group other than they are local Arab Sunni Muslims with some nationalistic tendencies and are anti-Saddam.

Black Banners Organization (Munazzamat Al-Alam Al-Aswad): The Black Banners is an Arab Sunni Muslim mujahideen group that has issued calls for the destruction of the Iraqi oil infrastructure to prevent the US from profiting from oil revenues.

Army of the Partisans of the Sunnah: This Sunni Muslim group appeared November 3, 2003 however no information on their operations or ideology is yet known.

Companies of Jihad (Seraya Al-Jihad): This is an Arab Sunni Muslim mujahideen group with nationalistic and anti-Zionist tendencies who regard Osama bin Laden as their role model. Based in Fallujah, this group has sworn to kill the members of the Governing Council. Their command is made up of religious leaders from Fallujah. They claim that the central command for the Iraqi resistance operates in Baghdad. They deny that Saddam directs any attacks.

General Command of the Armed Forces, Resistance and Liberation in Iraq: This is a group of Saddam loyalists that appeared in late May 2003 led by Taha Yasin Ramadin, the former Iraqi Vice President, and operates primarily around Fallujah. The group has claimed responsibility for some attacks and they are known to cooperate with other groups.

General Secretariat for the Liberation of Democratic Iraq: This is a left wing group of anti-Saddam secular nationalists however little else is known about this group and its operations, other than that they have publicly condemned the Coalition Authority for failing to provide security and basic services to the Iraqi population.

Hamza Platoon: This Arab Sunni Muslim group first appeared on October 10, 2003 in Fallujah demanding the release of a local sheik named Sheikh Jamal Nizzal, who had been arrested by US forces. No other information about this group is yet available.

Iraqi Communist Party-Al Cadre (ICP-Cadre/ICP-Alkader): This is a breakaway faction of the Iraqi Communist Party (ICP) that is angry with the mainstream party's decision to sit on the Governing Council. The ICP still enjoys substantial support within Iraq, and was formerly the largest party in the country. They are left-wing Arab nationalists who oppose Saddam and are anti-imperialist, anti-colonialist and anti-Zionist in nature. The group publicly opposes the breakup of Iraq along ethnic lines and encourages all ethnicities and religions to join the struggle. They have threatened to kill all collaborators, have denounced the mainstream ICP as traitors, and claim that the major leaders within the ICP are CIA agents. Although the group is secular in nature, it acknowledges the Islamic character and Muslim religion of the country and opposes attempts to rid Iraq of its "Eastern, Arab and Islamic character” through “Western ideology”.

Iraqi Liberation Army: This group first appeared on July 15, 2003, warning foreign countries not to send troops to Iraq and promised that foreign troops would be attacked. The characteristics of this group are not known however they bear some relationship to Iraqi National Liberation Army, and may be one in the same.

Iraq Liberation Front: The ILF first appeared April 28, 2003 in the Mansur District of Baghdad and are said to be Saddam loyalists. No other information is yet available.

Iraqi Liberation Organization: First appearing on August 26, 2003, this Arab Sunni Muslim group issued death threats to the Governing Council through the release of a tape with members of Islamic Jihad and Muslim Youth, which suggests a similar ideology as those groups. No other information on this group is yet available.

Iraqi National Islamic Resistance (1920 Revolution Brigades): This is a group of local Arab Sunni Muslims who are anti-Saddam, anti-colonialist, and have some nationalistic tendencies. They claim operational affiliation with other groups and appeared publicly on June 16, 2003, referring to the US as "American dogs" and warning foreign countries not to send troops to Iraq.

Iraqi National Liberation Army: This group, which first appeared in Baghdad on July 14, 2003, claims their members come from all ethnic groups and religions in Iraq. They are nationalistic and secular in nature and also claim support from the Hawza in Najaf, which suggests some Shia involvement.

Iraqi National Resistance Brigades: In a communiqué broadcast by Al-Jazeera on June 16, 2003, the Brigades qualified Saddam and his followers as "enemies who have contributed to the loss of the motherland". The Brigades describe themselves as "a group of young Iraqis and Arabs who believe in the unity, freedom and Arab culture of Iraq". On the tape aired by Al-Jazeera, the group also claimed responsibility for "all" attacks against US-led occupation forces in Iraq up to that point and said, "These operations are planned and executed by the units of the Iraqi Resistance Brigades and, contrary to what some news agencies claim, they are not the work of the head of the former regime and his supporters or individual acts by Muslim extremists".

Iraqi Patriotic Opposition: This group has a long history of association with the Ba’ath party in Iraq. They are now “supporting the armed opposition” most likely through raising money and are known to have raised funds internationally, especially in Italy.

Iraqi Resistance: This group appeared on November 24, 2003 in a phone call to the Australian CARE agency in the Mansur District of Baghdad, claiming responsibility for an RPG attack on their office and warned the agency to leave Iraq or face more such attacks. The group has also threatened “all such agencies” wherever they were housed, while also threatening to attack any oil installations in Iraq. Their ideology is unknown.

Islamic Jihad: This Arab Sunni Muslim group first appeared on August 26, 2003 and is said to be the Iraqi incarnation of the Palestinian group by the same name but not directly related to it. The group released a tape with Muslim Youth and Iraqi Liberation Organization, which suggests that they share a similar ideology with those groups.

Islamic Liberation Party: This is an Arab Sunni Muslim group however no other information is yet available.

Jihad Brigades of Imam Ali bin Abi-Taleb: This Shiite Muslim group first appeared on October 12, 2003 in Fallujah, vowing to kill soldiers from any nation sending troops to help the Coalition and to take the battle to the native soil of any nation that did. They have also promised to kill every one of the Governing Council members and any Iraqi cooperating with the Coalition. The group has stated that Najaf and Karbala are its intended battlefields against the Americans.

Jihad Cells/Brigades: Appearing July 22, 2003, the Jihad Brigades is made up of Arab Sunni Muslims and is anti-Saddam, with some nationalistic tendencies. They have publicly stated that attacking former regime members is a waste of time but have threatened to kill all those that collaborate with the US. The group, possibly based in Baghdad, refers to the Governing Council as “traitors” and has urged Iraqis to boycott them.

Liberating Iraq's Army: The ideology of this group unknown. They show some nationalistic tendencies, target those who collaborate with the US and have warned foreign nations against sending troops to the country. They are active in Anbar around Hadithah and have claimed responsibility for the assassination of Hadithah's pro-US mayor. Media reports claim they are pro-Saddam but proof is lacking and considering the area that they operate in, they may be anti-Saddam Arab Sunni Muslims, which characterizes much of the resistance in that area.