Sari Muhammad Hasan Shihab, known as Abu Khallad al-Muhandis, was a Jordanian national born in 1973 who was a member of the different groups that were founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Shihab was also known as Abu Safar and Suhayb.[1] Shihab was one of five al-Qaeda leaders who were released by Iran in March 2015 in exchange for a kidnapped Iranian diplomat in Yemen. The other four were Saif al-Adel, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Abu Khayr al-Masri and Khalid al-Aruri.[2]

According to one report, Sari Shihab was "involved in WMD programs and plots."[3] Sky News described Shihab and Al-Aruri as "The Iranians have also released two lesser known, though no less dangerous, operatives, both of Jordanian descent."[4]

Shihab was killed in an explosion in Idlib, Syria on August 22, 2019.[5]

References

  1. ^ Jean Charles Brisard and Damien Martinez, Zarqawi: The New Face of Al Qaeda (Cambridge 2005) p 136
  2. ^ "Iran Released Top Members of Al Qaeda in a Trade". New York Times. 17 September 2015.
  3. ^ "Al Qa'ida's External Operations Unit is back". 19 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. ^ "Terror Fears As Iran Frees Al Qaeda Members". Sky News. 14 September 2015.
  5. ^ "Al Qaeda veteran reportedly killed in Idlib | FDD's Long War Journal". 22 August 2019.
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