Overview
Rakkan Wahid al-Shammri was a senior ISIS weapons smuggler and facilitator. Shammri was killed in a U.S.-led ground raid on October 5, 2022.“US Forces Conduct Raid in Northeast Syria against ISIS,” U.S. Central Command, October 6, 2022, https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3182162/us-forces-conduct-raid-in-northeast-syria-against-isis.
According to media sources, Shammri was a smuggler known to bring in weapons, fighters, and money to support ISIS. Shammri was also reported to have beheaded two members of the Syrian Defense Forces.Karoun Demirjian, “U.S. conducts back-to-back raids in Syria, killing key ISIS operatives,” Washington Post, October 6, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/06/us-raid-isis-syria
Since at least 2020, Shammri reportedly operated within areas under the control of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in northeastern Syria. On October 5, 2022, the United States launched a ground raid near Shammri’s safehouse in Qamishili, northeastern Syria. Shammri, who was the intended target of the raid, was ultimately killed during the operation.Karoun Demirjian, “U.S. conducts back-to-back raids in Syria, killing key ISIS operatives,” Washington Post, October 6, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/10/06/us-raid-isis-syria; 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. One of Shammri’s associates was also wounded, and two members of the regime’s National Defense Force—who were reportedly staying at the safehouse—were detained by U.S. forces.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):
- Weapons smuggler
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.
History
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.