Shahab al-Muhajir

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Shahab al-Muhajir
شهاب المهاجر
Commander-in-chief of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province
In office
April 2020 – present
Personal details
Born (1994-10-28) October 28, 1994 (age 27)[1][2]
Afghanistan
Nickname(s)المهاجر
al-Muhājir, i.e., 'The Migrant'
Military career
Allegiance Islamic State
Service/branch Islamic State – Khorasan Province
RankEmir of the Islamic State – Khorasan Province
Battles/warsWar in Afghanistan

Shahab al-Muhajir (Arabic: شهاب المهاجر, romanized: ʾShahab al-Muhajirʿ) is an Islamist terrorist, serving as the commander-in-chief of the militant group the Islamic State – Khorasan Province (IS-KP or IS-K) since 2020.[3][4][5] He is a citizen of Iraq according to an analysis by BBC News and Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).[6] His nickname al-Muhajir means "The Migrant" in English. He also uses the alias Sanaullah al-Sadiq.[7]

When IS-K was established in Afghanistan, Hafiz Saeed Khan was its chief and his deputy Abdul Rauf Aliza, a former member of Taliban. The United States carried out airstrikes killing Aliza in 2015 and Hafiz Saeed Khan in 2016. In 2020, al-Muhajir was instated as its leader and head of operations of IS-K becoming its mastermind and main figure.[7] He is also reportedly the first non-Afghan or non-Pakistani national to head the IS-K group.[8]

Formerly Shahab al-Muhajir was mid-level Haqqani network commander (an Islamist militant group affiliated with the Taliban) and a member of Al-Qaeda before defecting and becoming the leader of the ISIS-K greatly opposed to the Taliban.[9] After the 2021 Kabul airport attack masterminded by al-Muhajir, the Taliban announced that they would take every possible measure to capture him.[10]

On 21 December 2021, the United Nations Security Council ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee added al-Muhajir (under his real name, "Sanaullah Ghafari"), to their sanctions list.[11]

On 22 December 2021, the Council of the European Union followed the UN by adding al-Muhajir (under his real name, "Sanaullah Ghafari"), to their sanctions list.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Counter Terrorism Designations, Designations Updates and Designations Removals; Syria Designations Updates".
  2. ^ "Sanaullah Ghafari – Rewards for Justice".
  3. ^ Jenkins, Jack. "Who is ISIS-K, the group officials blame for the Kabul airport bombings?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 28 August 2021.
  4. ^ Schmitt, Eric (2021-08-25). "ISIS Branch Poses Biggest Immediate Terrorist Threat to Evacuation in Kabul". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  5. ^ Johny, Stanly (2021-08-27). "Explained | Who are ISKP, the group behind Kabul blasts?". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2021-08-28.
  6. ^ "Who are Isis-K, and what is their relationship with the Taliban?". The Telegraph. 28 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Presswire18.com: ISIS-K Chief: Who is Shahab al-Muhajir, the head of the group that terrorized Kabul
  8. ^ John Kirby (August 27, 2021). "ISIS-K, explained by an expert - What to know about the Afghanistan ISIS offshoot that waged a deadly attack at the Kabul airport". Vox. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  9. ^ Eric Schmitt (August 25, 2021). "ISIS Branch Poses Biggest Immediate Terrorist Threat to Evacuation in Kabul". The New York Times. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Farmer, Ben (27 August 2021). "Ambitious new Isis-K leader becomes Taliban's most wanted enemy after Kabul attacks". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 28 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Security Council ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds One Entry to Its Sanctions List | Meetings Coverage and Press Releases". www.un.org. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  12. ^ "UN designates UPC & ISIL-K leaders". EU Sanctions. 2021-12-23. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
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