Back أبو عمر الشيشاني Arabic ابو عمر الشيشانى ARZ Əbu Ömər əl-Şişani Azerbaijani ئەبوو عومەر چیچانی CKB Abú Umar aš-Šíšání Czech Abu Omar al-Schischani German Abu Omar al-Shishani Spanish ابوعمر شیشانی Persian Abu Omar al-Shishani Finnish Abou Omar al-Chichani French
Abu Omar al-Shishani | |
|---|---|
 Abu Omar al-Shishani during the Syrian Civil War | |
| Birth name | Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili |
| Born | 11 January 1986[1][2][3] Birkiani, Georgian SSR, Soviet Union[4] |
| Died | 10 July 2016 (aged 30)[5][6] Al-Shirqat, Saladin Governorate, Iraq |
| Allegiance |  Georgian Armed Forces (2006–2010)  Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (2012–2013)  Islamic State[7][8](May 2013 – July 2016) |
| Service | Military of ISIS |
| Rank | Field Commander |
| Commands | Northern Syria |
| Battles / wars | Russo-Georgian War[9] |
| Spouse(s) | Seda Dudurkaeva |
Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili (Georgian: თარხან ბათირაშვილი; 11 January 1986 – 10 July 2016), known by his nom de guerre Abu Omar al-Shishani (Arabic: أَبُو عُمَرَ ٱلشِّيشَانِيِّ, romanized: ʾAbū ʿUmar aš-Šīšānī)[11] or Omar al-Shishani, was a Chechen-Georgian jihadist who served as a commander for the Islamic State, and was previously a sergeant in the Georgian Army.[11]
A veteran of the 2008 Russo-Georgian War, Batirashvili became a jihadist after being discharged from the Georgian military and served in various command positions with Islamist militant groups fighting in the Syrian Civil War. He became the leader of the Muhajireen Brigade (Emigrants Brigade), and its successor, Jaish al-Muhajireen wal-Ansar (Army of Emigrants and Supporters). In 2013, Batirashvili joined the Islamic State and rapidly became a senior commander in the organization, directing a series of battles and ultimately earning a seat on ISIL's shura council.
The US Treasury Department added Batirashvili to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists on 24 September 2014,[12] and seven months later the US government announced a reward up to US$5 million for information leading to his capture.[13][14] There were several reports of his death throughout 2015 and 2016. ISIL announced that he was killed in combat in the Iraqi city of Al-Shirqat, south of Mosul while the Pentagon said that Shishani had likely been killed in U.S. coalition air strikes in Syria, but could not confirm or deny it.[15][16]
- ^ "Wanted: Information that brings to justice ... Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili ... Up to $5 Million Reward". Rewards for Justice. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016.
- ^ "Omar al-Shishani". Counter Extremism Project. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
- ^ "Syria crisis: Omar Shishani, Chechen jihadist leader". BBC News Middle East. 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ Cullison, Alan (19 November 2013). "Meet the Rebel Commander in Syria That Assad, Russia and the U.S. All Fear". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 11 July 2014.(subscription required) See also at https://www.google.co.uk/#q=meet+the+rebel+commander
- ^ "Islamic State says top commander is dead; Pentagon unsure".
- ^ "Isis has confirmed the death of hugely popular 'minister of war' Omar al-Shishani". Independent.co.uk. 13 July 2016. Archived from the original on 13 July 2016.
- ^ "The Syrian rebel groups pulling in foreign fighters". BBC News. 24 December 2013. Retrieved 24 December 2013.
- ^ "Chechen-led group swears allegiance to head of Islamic State of Iraq and Sham". The Long War Journal. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b "The Islamic State's Anbar Offensive and Abu Umar al-Shishani". War on the Rocks. 9 October 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
- ^ "Al Nusrah Front commanded Free Syrian Army Unit, 'Chechen emigrants,' in assault on Syrian air defense base". The Long War Journal. 19 October 2012. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b Mroue, Bassem (2 July 2014). "Chechen in Syria a rising star in extremist group". Washington Examiner. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2014 – via Associated Press.
- ^ "Senior Islamic State military commander, 'emir of suicide bombers' among Treasury's terrorism designations". Long War Journal. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
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state-2015was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "ISIS Says 'Minister Of War' Abu Omar Al-Shishani Killed". Retrieved 14 July 2016.
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