Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari
Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari | |
|---|---|
أبو حذيفة الأنصاري | |
| 5th Spokesman of the Islamic State | |
| In office August 2023 – 1 September 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Abu Omar al-Muhajir (POW) |
| Personal details | |
Religion | Sunni Islam |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | |
Conflicts | War on terror |
Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari (Arabic: أبو حذيفة الأنصاري, romanized: ʾAbū Ḥudhayfah al-Anṣārī)[1][2][3][4][5] was the spokesman of the Islamic State (IS) from 2023 until his alleged death in 2026.
Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari was announced as the spokesman in a speech released by Al-Furqan Foundation media in August 2023.[6][7] He replaced Abu Omar al-Muhajir as the spokesman of the Islamic State, who was arrested by Tahrir al-Sham.[8][9] He was reportedly killed in a joint operation by the Yemeni Armed Forces and the Saudi-led coalition forces in Yemen in late August or early September 2026, however the Islamic State has not confirmed al-Ansari's death.[10][11]
Islamic State spokesman
[edit]In August 2023, Abu Hudhayfah al-Ansari announced the killing of the fourth Islamic State Caliph, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi, announcing Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as his successor,[12] and threatened to increase attacks after U.S. withdrawal.[13] Nothing was known yet about the identity of Abu Hudhayfah. In August 2023, Mina Al-Lami, a Jihadist specialist for BBC Monitoring, speculated on Twitter that Abu Hudhayfah is possibly an Iraqi.[14] In January 2024, Abu Hudayfah released an audio discussing the Gaza war.[15][16]
In February 2026, Abu Hudayfah urged IS militants in Syria to fight the new Syrian government.[17]
Reported death
[edit]On 1 September 2026, the government of Yemen announced that al-Ansari had been killed earlier that day in a joint operation carried out by the 22nd Brigade of Yemen's counterterrorism forces and the Saudi-led coalition.[10]
The operation was carried out in Seiyun, Hadhramaut, capturing eight civilians including women and children who were inside the residential property. One associate was arrested after resisting and was treated for injuries. Security forces recovered an explosive belt, two laptops, five mobile phones and two tablets, while authorities said the operation was supported by intelligence-sharing, surveillance and reconnaissance.[18]
References
[edit]- ↑ "داعش يعلن بتسجيل غير مؤرخ مقتل زعيمه "أبو الحسين" القرشي" [ISIS announces in an undated recording the killing of its leader, "Abu al-Hussein" al-Qurashi]. Al Arabiya (in Arabic). Archived from the original on 2023-08-03.
- ↑ "من هو أبو حفص الهاشمي القرشي الزعيم الجديد لتنظيم داعش؟ – المشهد". Al Mashad. 3 August 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-09-30.
- ↑ "Turkish-backed forces eliminate ISIS leader in Idlib, Syria". Shafaq News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-12. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ↑ "Islamic State appoints new caliph after confirming the death of its previous leader". All Arab News. August 6, 2023. Archived from the original on October 20, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
- ↑ "ISIS has declared the death of its leader and the appointment of a new leader". terrorism-info.org. Archived from the original on 2023-12-15. Retrieved 2023-12-06.
- ↑ "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abū Ḥudhayfah al-Anṣārī: "So Rejoice In Your Transaction Which You Have Contracted"". jihadology.net. Archived from the original on 2024-01-05. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ Orton, Kyle (22 August 2023). "Islamic State Introduces the Fifth "Caliph"". Kyle Orton's Blog. Archived from the original on 5 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ↑ Ibrahim, Hassan (28 September 2023). "Mystery circumstances surround al-Muhajir arrest by Tahrir al-Sham". Enab Baladi. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ↑ "ISIS Directs Multiple Messages Targeting Turkey and Hayat Tahrir al-Sham". Jusoor. 10 August 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- 1 2 "Yemen says senior Daesh figure killed in joint operation with coalition forces". TRT World. 1 September 2026. Retrieved 1 September 2026.
- ↑ "Yemen forces kill Islamic State spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari". The Jerusalem Post. 2026-09-01. Retrieved 2026-09-01.
- ↑ Roggio, Bill (4 August 2023). "Islamic State confirms death of yet another leader, appoints new 'caliph'". FDD's Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
- ↑ Zelin, Aaron Y.; Margolin, Devorah (September 2023). "The Islamic State's Shadow Governance in Eastern Syria Since the Fall of Baghuz". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2023.
As for crusader America: in the past, God inflicted torture upon you at our hands. Today, He inflicts torture upon you from Himself as a just punishment for your war against God's loyal followers. By God, to us it is the best torture since we give glory to Him as the lord of honour. It is most healing to our hearts, and most grievous and severe to you. It started with the coronavirus [Covid-19] plague, and then came its economic consequences and crises for you. It does not end with your immersion in the quagmire of a crusader-crusader war, which exhausted your economy and military materials. Worry, unease, and fear is even apparent in the statements of your military officials due to the near depletion of your military arsenal designated for proxy wars. You are now experiencing your dying days and consecutive misfortunes. Praise and thanks be to God. We lie in wait for you with more, God willing
- ↑ @Minalami (August 4, 2023). "The new ISIS spokesman, Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari, sounds to me like he could possibly be Iraqi" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
- ↑ "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abū Ḥudhayfah al-Anṣārī: "And Kill Them Wherever You Overtake Them"". jihadology.net. Archived from the original on 2024-02-01. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (2024-01-07). "And Kill Them Wherever You Find Them- New Speech by Islamic State Spokesman Abu Hudhayfa al-Ansari". Aymenn's Monstrous Publications. Archived from the original on 2024-02-06. Retrieved 2024-01-12.
- ↑ "ISIS urges members to fight Syria's new government". The Strits Times. Agence France Presse. Archived from the original on 2026-02-21. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
- ↑ "Joint Saudi-Yemeni operation kills alleged Daesh spokesman in Yemen". Arab News PK. 1 September 2026.
