Overview
Abu Mu’Ad al-Qahtani was a senior ISIS leader. On October 6, 2022, Qahtani was killed in a U.S. airstrike in northern Syria.“US strikes in Syria kill top 'IS' leaders,” Deutsche Welle, October 6, 2022, https://www.dw.com/en/us-strikes-in-syria-kill-top-is-leaders/a-63365043.
According to media sources, al-Qahtani oversaw prisoner affairs for the terrorist group in Syria and served as a commander for ISIS.“US strikes in Syria kill top 'IS' leaders,” Deutsche Welle, October 6, 2022, https://www.dw.com/en/us-strikes-in-syria-kill-top-is-leaders/a-63365043. On October 6, 2022, the United States carried out an airstrike in northern Syria, killing Abu-Hashum al-Umawi and Abu Mu’ad al Qahtani. Umawi was the deputy leader of ISIS in Syria and one of the top five leaders of ISIS.“3 ISIS leaders killed in separate U.S. military operations in Syria,” CBS News, October 6, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/isis-leaders-abu-ala-abu-muad-al-qahtani-rakkan-wahid-al-shamman-killed-u-s-military-operations-syria; “U.S. says Syria raid killed ISIS official Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri,” Reuters, October 6, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/us-says-syria-raid-killed-isis-official-rakkan-wahid-al-shammri-2022-10-06; “U.S. Forces Successfully Strike ISIS Leaders in Northern Syria,” U.S. Central Command, October 6, 2022, https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3182748/us-forces-successfully-strike-isis-leaders-in-northern-syria
The airstrike occurred a day after the United States launched a ground raid that targeted and killed Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri, a senior ISIS weapons smuggler and facilitator, near Qamishli, northeastern Syria. Although ISIS suffered a territorial defeat in 2019, the U.S. continues to launch operations targeting ISIS leadership to ensure that ISIS does not regain influence in the region.Robert E. Hamilton, Gerald M. Feierstein, Gönül Tol, Charles Lister, Mirette F. Mabrouk, Marvin G. Weinbaum, “Weekly Briefing: Ukraine’s ‘sick burn’ to Putin’s pet project,” Middle East Institute, October 11, 2022, https://www.mei.edu/blog/weekly-briefing-ukraines-sick-burn-putins-pet-project.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- ISIS
- Read Threat Report
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Senior leader
ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On May 8, 2019, Taliban insurgents detonated an explosive-laden vehicle and then broke into American NGO Counterpart International’s offices in Kabul. At least seven people were killed and 24 were injured.