Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir
ابو الحسن المهاجر
Born
Hasan al-Utaybi

Riyadh
Died27 October 2019(2019-10-27) (aged 41–42)
Ayn al-Bayda, Jarabulus
Cause of deathAir strike
NationalitySaudi Arabian
OccupationOfficial spokesman of the Islamic State
SuccessorAbu Hamza Al-Qurashi
Movement Islamic State
Criminal charge(s)Designated a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council and the US State Department

Hasan al-Utaybi (Arabic: حسن العتيبي) known by his nom de guerre Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir (Arabic: أبو الحسن المهاجر; died 27 October 2019)[1] was the kunya used by the official spokesman of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from 5 December 2016 until 27 October 2019, when he was killed in a U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria. He was a Saudi national.[2] He was replaced by Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi.

History

Abul-Hasan was the successor of Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who was killed while visiting the Aleppo frontlines in Syria in August 2016.[3] He was believed to have been a foreigner due to his kunya identifying him as "al-Muhajir" meaning "the emigrant". After his death, he was confirmed to be a Saudi national on 31 October.[4]

Speeches

Speculation about identity

In an article published in The Atlantic, journalist Graeme Wood postulates that Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir is Texas-born John Georgelas, also known as Yahya Abu Hassan, though he later cast doubt on his theory, and al-Bahrumi was eventually killed in October 2017.[11] Italian media has also speculated that al-Muhajir studied at the Black Swan Rock School of Music in Luserna San Giovanni.[12]

Biography

Abul Hassan Al-Muhâjir's real name was Hasân al-'Utaybî, a graduate of shari'a studies from Muhammad b. Sa'ûd University in Riyâdh, Saudi Arabia fled his country during the crackdown on the original #AQAP, presumably in 2004. Arriving in 'Irâq in spring 2004 at the latest, Muhâjir joined Tawhîd wa-l-Jihâd and took part in both Fallûjah battles, the second one as part of a special group under command of the overall commander of the city - 'Umar Hadîd. Subsequently, he joined the media department of the #AQI, becoming a voice of the group. Presumably in 2013, he accompanied Abû Muhammad al-Furqân - the media minister - to Syria. He continued in the media wing, at one point as spokesman of the media ministry. In 2016, he replaced the deceased Abû Muhammad al-'Adnânî as official spokesman of #IS. Now at the latest, he occupied a top position within the group, appearing next to Abû Bakr al-Baghdâdî in the 2019 video. Later that year, he was killed in a U.S. airstrike.[13]

An Islamic State biography lauds Muhâjir for his opposition to the Khawârij - both in 'Irâq in the mid-2000s and in Syria during his tenure as official spokesman. Likely due to his background in Islamic law, he was used as a negotiator preaching to hardliners like the Hâzimîs.[13][14]

Death

Muhajir and four others were killed on 27 October 2019 by a Central Intelligence Agency airstrike in Ayn al-Bayda,[15] near Jarablus in northwest Syria, close to the border with Turkey.[1][16] It came less than 24 hours after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up during a U.S. raid in Syria's Idlib Province.[17] Muhajir was described as a senior ISIS leader and Baghdadi's "right-hand man."[1]

On 29 October, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that al-Baghdadi's "number one replacement" had been killed by American forces, adding: "Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!"[18] While Trump did not specify a name, a U.S. official later confirmed that Trump was referring to al-Muhajir.[19] On 31 October, ISIS confirmed al-Muhajir and al-Baghdadi's deaths.[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c "ISIS spokesman Al-Muhajir killed in U.S. airstrike in Syria". BNO News. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  2. ^ "IS confirms Baghdadi death and names new leader". BBC News. October 31, 2019.
  3. ^ "Islamic State identifies Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer as new spokesman". Reuters. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  4. ^ "Islamic State names its new leader as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi". BBC News. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
  5. ^ "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abū al-Ḥasan al-Muhājir: "And You Will Remember What I [Now] Say To You"". jihadology.net. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  6. ^ Berger, J.M. (August 2017). "Countering Islamic State Messaging Through "Linkage-Based" Analysis" (PDF). Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies: 3–4, 6, 8. doi:10.19165/2017.2.02. ISSN 2468-0486. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  7. ^ Hassan, Hassan (June 2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation". Combating Terrorism Center. United States Military Academy. 10 (6): 6. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  8. ^ Zelin, Aaaron Y. (22 April 2018). "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abul-Hasan Al-Muhajir: "So From Their Guidance Take An Example"". Jihadology. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  9. ^ "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abū al-Ḥasan al-Muhājir: "The Mujāhidīn's Assault on the Tower of the Polytheists"". jihadology.net. Retrieved 2024-01-07.
  10. ^ Callimachi, Rukmini (18 March 2019). "ISIS Spokesman Ends Silence by Calling for Retaliation Over New Zealand Massacres". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  11. ^ Wood, Graeme (25 January 2017). "The American Climbing the Ranks of ISIS". The Atlantic. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
  12. ^ Raineri, Daniele (7 July 2017). "I nuovi capi dello Stato islamico". Il Foglio (in Italian). Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  13. ^ a b Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (August 16, 2023). "A Brief Biography of Former Islamic State Spokesman Abu al-Hasan al-Muhajir: Translation and Overview".
  14. ^ @Mr0rangetracker (August 14, 2023). "Once more, a small thread on #IS history. The second official spokesman Abû-l-Hasan al-Muhâjir was an #AQI old-hand as me and @DanieleRaineri found out years ago based on an unofficial vidoe biography. Now, some new pieces of information emerged in written biography. 1/" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  15. ^ "U.S. Strikes Kill ISIS Spokesperson One Day After Baghdadi's Death in Syria Raid". Newsweek. 27 October 2019.
  16. ^ "Kurdish YPG: Islamic State spokesman killed in Syria". Reuters. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  17. ^ "ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi Is Dead, Trump Says". The New York Times. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  18. ^ "Trump says al-Baghdadi's 'number one replacement' is dead". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  19. ^ "Trump says likely Baghdadi successor killed by U.S. troops". Reuters. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
  20. ^ "Islamic State confirms Baghdadi's death, names new 'Emir of the Faithful'". Long War Journal. 1 November 2019.
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