Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi
Islamic State leader from 2022 to 2023
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Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi (Arabic: أبو الحسين الحسيني القرشي, romanized: Abū al-Ḥusayn al-Husaynī al-Qurashī; died 29 April 2023) was the fourth caliph[a] of the Islamic State and allegedly the first Syrian to claim the title.[6] He took office on 30 November 2022.
Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi | |
|---|---|
أبو الحسين الحسيني القرشي | |
| 4th Caliph of the Islamic State | |
| In office 30 November 2022 – 29 April 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi |
| Succeeded by | Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi[1] |
| Personal details | |
| Died | 29 April 2023 |
| Cause of death | Suicide bombing |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | |
Conflicts | War on terror |
Life
Rise to power
According to Turkish claims, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini joined the Islamic State in early 2013.[7] He took over leadership after the death of the previous leader Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi. He was announced as caliph by Islamic State's official spokesmen Abu Umar al-Muhajir in an audio message broadcast by Al-Furqan Media foundation (Islamic State's primary media).[8][9]
Abu al-Hussein was described as a veteran of Islamic State and a loyal member of the group.[10] In January 2023, a prominent dissident anti-IS leadership channel alleged that Abu al-Hussein was Iraqi like his predecessors and was appointed by a shura council led by Abdul Raouf al-Muhajir,[11][12] emir of Islamic State's administration.[13]
Leader of the Islamic State
By 19 January 2023, Abu al-Hussein had received pledges from all Islamic State provinces,[14][15] and also from Islamic State supporters in around 40 countries.[16] He also received some pledges of support from outside people who were not previously part of the group.[17][18]
As of April, according to an Iraqi security official, Iraqi, Turkish and American intelligence agencies were cooperating with each other to identify Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini.[19]
Alleged death reports
On 27 February 2023, Iraqi media reported the killing of Abu al-Hussein in an operation by the Iraqi Army in the desert of Anbar,[20] but these reports were not confirmed by Iraqi military officials.
In June 2023, British tabloid the Daily Mirror claimed that Abu al-Hussein was possibly among 5 IS leaders who were reportedly killed in an Iraqi/UK airstrike in the Hamrin region of Iraq, but the report was not confirmed by any other sources and the eventual confirmation of Abu al-Hussein's death said he was killed in Syria, not Iraq.[21]
Death
On 30 April 2023, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that the Turkish National Intelligence Organization had allegedly tracked down and killed Abu al-Hussein the previous day, on 29 April.[22][23]
Turkish state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported that the operation occurred at Jindires, in a region controlled by Turkish-backed rebel groups, in which Abu al-Hussein detonated his suicide vest to avoid being captured.[7] The United States said it had no information to verify Turkey's claims.[24]
On 15 May 2023, a statement attributed to the Islamic State that denied the death of Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini in the Turkish operation was circulating in the Al-Hawl refugee camp, but the statement turned out to be a forgery.[25]
On 3 August 2023, the Islamic State's official spokesman Abu Hudhayfah Al-Ansari announced the death of Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi.[1] The spokesman claimed he was killed in direct clashes with the HTS group in Idlib province in rebel-held northwestern Syria and accused HTS of acting as agents of Turkish intelligence.[1][26] The message also named Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as Abu al-Hussein's successor and caliph of the Islamic State.[27]
On 4 August, HTS in an official statement denied Islamic State's claim that they killed Abu al-Hussein.[28] However, United States officials agreed that HTS was behind the death of Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi.[29]
