Abu Khattab | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | Abu Khattab al-Kurdi (the Kurd) |
Born | Halabja, Iraq |
Died | 17 November 2014 Ayn al-Arab, Syria |
Allegiance | ![]() (? – November 2014) |
Service/ | Military of ISIL |
Rank | Commander |
Commands | Northern Syria |
Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
Abu Khattab, known by the nom de guerre of Abu Khattab al-Kurdi (died 17 November 2014), was one of the top commanders[1][2][3] of Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from Iraqi Kurdish origin. He was helping ISIL with other senior and assault commanders in the battle of siege of Kobani.[4][5] He was originally from the town of Halabja, in Iraqi Kurdistan near the Iranian border.[6][7]
Abu Khattab was one of the commander of Kobani assault, a Kurdish stronghold on the Turkish border that was put under siege by ISIL in 2014. According to the officials, Kurds are fighting alongside ISIL and were providing key intelligence about local terrain[8] and sharing their knowledge of the language.[9] Although the ISIL troops were able to repel Kurdish forces, the United States and their allies launched drone strikes against ISIL fighting positions, vehicles, and oil refineries near Kobani to help the Kurds defend the town.[10]
Death
editOn 17 November 2014, Abu Khattab was killed in an ambush set up by Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) fighters in the town of Tell Bakr along with 28 other militants, including two senior commanders Abu Ali al-Askari and Abu Mohammed al-Masri. By 15 March, the siege of Kobani was over, leaving 741 Kurdish and 3,945+ ISIL militants dead.
On March 23 in a 24-minute-long video released by ISIL bearing the logo of the group's media wing, Al Hayat the death of Abu Khattab was confirmed by ISIL.[11] Abu Khattab al-Kurdi is shown in the footage together with his young son.
References
edit- ^ "Kurds help Islamic militants in battle for Kobani". 4 November 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
- ^ "Kurds help Islamic militants in battle for Kobani". Mail Online. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ^ "IS misshandelt und indoktriniert kurdische Schüler". Welt Online. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ^ "Not All Kurds Are Fighting Against the Islamic State — Some Are Joining It | VICE News". VICE News. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Islamic State has roots in Jordan, Afghanistan: Report". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ^ "Not All Kurds Are Fighting Against the Islamic State — Some Are Joining It | VICE News". VICE News. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "Islamic State's commanders killed in Kobane". Retrieved 3 March 2016.
- ^ "Small number of Kurds reportedly fighting alongside IS in Kobane: officials". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ^ "Kurds help ISIS with terrain, language in battle for Kobani | Fox News". Fox News. 2014-11-04. Retrieved 2016-03-15.
- ^ Mroue, Bassem; Abdul-zahra, Qassim; Press, Associated. "Kurds help Islamic militants in battle for Kobani". Salon. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
- ^ "New IS 'Execution' Video Targets Kurds". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2015-03-23. Retrieved 2016-03-15.