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'''Abu Khalid al-Suri''' ({{lang-ar|أبو خالد السوري}}; Abu Khalid 'the Syrian'), or '''Mohamed al-Bahaiya''' or '''Abu Umayr al-Shami''', was a Syrian jihadist militant often affiliated with [[Osama bin Laden|Osama Bin Laden]]’s [[al-Qaeda]] and the Syrian Islamist group [[Ahrar al-Sham]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/01/statement_from_zawah.php |title=Statement from Zawahiri's representative shows Syrian rebel group tied to al Qaeda |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=January 18, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref> Al-Suri was believed to be assassinated by an ISIL suicide attack in 2014, however ISIL denied involvement in the attack.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29135922|title=Syria conflict: Blast kills leader of Ahrar al-Sham rebels|work=BBC News|date=10 September 2014}}</ref>

==Militant activity==
Born in [[Aleppo|Aleppo, Syria]], in 1963 as Mohamed al-Bahaiya, al-Suri's jihadist career has its roots in the failed [[Islamist uprising in Syria]] between 1979 and 1982, following which he fled Syria.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=54618 |title=Who and What Was Abu Khalid al-Suri? Part I - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |website=Carnegieendowment.org |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/empire/2013/01/201313092236800691.html |title=Timeline: The Syrian revolt |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=2013-01-30 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

During the 1990s al-Suri coordinated closely with [[Mustafa Setmariam Nasar|Abu-Musab al-Suri]], a Spanish-Syrian jihadist. Together they worked to establish jihadi volunteer centers, training camps and various media groups in Afghanistan. While both men worked closely with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, they denied being members of al-Qaeda in a statement made in 1999.<ref name="carnegieendowment1">{{cite web|url=http://carnegieendowment.org/syriaincrisis/?fa=54618 |title=Who and What Was Abu Khalid al-Suri? Part I - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace |publisher=Carnegieendowment.org |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> Around the time of the statement, al-Suri had been operating mostly out of Turkey and fled to Afghanistan.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In 2004, al-Suri and Abu-Musab were linked to the [[2004 Madrid train bombings|2004 Madrid bombing]] through a series of money transfers and personal contacts. A Spanish court document went on to name al-Suri as Bin Laden's "courier" in Europe.<ref name="carnegieendowment1"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://elpais.com/elpaismedia/ultimahora/media/200309/17/espana/20030917elpepunac_1_P_DOC.doc |title=Archived copy |access-date=2016-08-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717055848/http://www.elpais.com/elpaismedia/ultimahora/media/200309/17/espana/20030917elpepunac_1_P_DOC.doc |archive-date=2015-07-17 }}</ref>

Al-Suri was financially aided partly by [[Abd Al-Rahman al-Nuaimi]], a Qatari national. Nuaimi is a purported human rights activist and co-founder of [[Alkarama]]. On December 18, 2013, Nuaimi was placed on the United States Treasury's [[Specially Designated Global Terrorist|Specially Designated Global Terror List]] (SDTG). Nuaimi is accused of transferring $600,000 dollars to al-Suri and the intent to transfer approximately $50,000 more.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.treasury.gov/press-center/press-releases/Pages/jl2249.aspx |title=Treasury Designates Al-Qa'ida Supporters in Qatar and Yemen |website=Treasury.gov |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

==Involvement in the Syrian Civil War and Ahrar al-Sham==
In 2011, al-Suri co-founded Ahrar al-Sham, a Sunni Syrian Islamist group, opposing [[Bashar al-Assad]]'s government forces as part of the [[Islamic Front (Syria)|Islamic Front]]. Despite helping to found al-Sham and serving in its most senior ranks, al-Suri's involvement in the organization and his ties to al-Qaeda were kept secret, and he adopted a new nom de guerre: Abu Omeir al-Shami.<ref name="carnegieendowment1"/> Al Suri continued to use both names separately in statements, but it was not until after his death that the two were linked as the same person.<ref name="carnegieendowment1"/>

In early 2013 infighting began between al-Qaeda's [[al-Nusra Front]] and [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] (then known only as ISI). It began with a recorded announcement on April 8 by ISI's leader [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]] announcing an unauthorized merger between the two groups.<ref>http://www.pri.org/dispatch/news/afp/130409/qaeda-iraq-confirms-syrias-nusra-part-network{{dead link|date=August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7119.htm |title=ISI Confirms That Jabhat Al-Nusra Is Its Extension In Syria, Declares 'Islamic State Of Iraq And Al-Sham' As New Name Of Merged Group |website=Memri.org |access-date=2016-08-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006085808/http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/7119.htm |archive-date=2014-10-06 }}</ref> Disagreements and conflicts between the two escalated by the end of 2013. Hostilities continued to worsen, with al-Nusra's leader, [[Abu Mohammad al-Julani|Abu Mohammed al-Julani]], claiming in a 2014 interview that he saw no end to the conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-rebels-factbox-idUSBREA080SW20140109 |title=Factbox: Syria's rebel groups |publisher=Reuters |date=2014-01-09 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Abu Mohammed al-Golani |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/nusra-leader-conflict-isil-syria-150604021024858.html |title=Nusra leader: No end to conflict with ISIL in Syria |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=2015-06-04 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

In May 2013, the leader of al-Qaeda, [[Ayman al-Zawahiri]], sent a secret letter to al-Baghdadi in the hopes of quelling tensions between their two groups. The letter, dated 23 May 2013, asserts al-Qaeda's dominance and names al-Suri as al-Zawahiri's representative and delegate in Syria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/710588/translation-of-ayman-al-zawahiris-letter.pdf |title=Translation of al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's letter to the leaders of the two Jihadi groups |website=S3.documentcloud.org |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

[[Abu Musab al-Zarqawi]], Abu Musab al-Suri, [[Abdullah Azzam]], Ayman al-Zawahiri, and [[Osama bin Laden]] were cited by Abu Khalid when he addressed [[ISIL]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/01/alleged_message_from_zawahiris.php |title=Alleged message from Zawahiri's Syrian representative posted online |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=January 17, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

==Assassination==
On February 23, 2014, five men entered al-Suri's headquarter compound in Aleppo and opened fire, then one of the gunman detonated his explosive pack. The attack killed al-Suri and six of his men.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26318646 |title=Syria rebel leader Abu Khaled al-Suri killed in Aleppo |publisher=BBC News |date=2014-02-24 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/zawahiris_chief_repr.php |title=Al Qaeda's chief representative in Syria killed in suicide attack |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date= February 23, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

Syrian rebels mourned al-Suri's death on social media accounts, posting his photo and praising his actions in support of jihad.<ref name="reuters1">{{cite web|last=Karouny |first=Mariam |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-crisis-qaeda-commander-idUSBREA1M0W220140223 |title=Syrian rebel, friend of al Qaeda leader, killed by rival Islamists |publisher=Reuters |date=2014-02-23 |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref> Al-Qaeda published a eulogy for al-Suri and uploaded a video of him at the al-Farouq training camp in Afghanistan, along with photos of him with Bin Laden.<ref>{{cite web|author=Daniel Cassman |url=https://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/523#note30 |title=Ahrar al-Sham | Mapping Militant Organizations |website=Web.stanford.edu |access-date=2016-08-18}}</ref>

A rebel source was quoted saying "Sheikh Abu Khalid was an important Jihadi figure, he fought the Americans in Iraq and in Afghanistan. They (ISIL) gave the Americans a present, a free gift, by killing him."<ref name="reuters1"/>

Abu Khalid received condolences from Nusra Front member Abu Sulayman al Muhajir.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/04/social_media_jihad_banner_dedi.php |title=Social Media Jihad: Banner dedicated to Zawahiri's main representative in Syria |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=April 10, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

Abu Khalid was praised by the [[Mujahideen Shura Council in the Environs of Jerusalem]]'s media branch [[Ibn Taymiyya]] Media Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/social_media_jihad_honoring_al.php |title=Social Media Jihad: Honoring al Qaeda's chief representative in Syria |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date= February 26, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

Abu Khalid received condolences from Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/04/zawahiri_eulogizes_a.php |title=Zawahiri eulogizes al Qaeda's slain Syrian representative |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=April 4, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref> [[Abu Firas al-Suri]] and Abu Khalid were praised in an Al-Qaeda video released by al-Zawahiri called "Three Sheikhs of Jihad".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/01/ayman-al-zawahiri-honors-2-slain-jihadis-in-new-video.php |title=Ayman al Zawahiri honors 2 slain jihadis in new video |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date= January 17, 2017 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

Abu Khalid appeared in photos with Ahrar ash-Sham chief [[Hassan Abboud]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/02/islamic_front_offici.php |title=Islamic Front official posts pictures of al Qaeda's top representative in Syria|last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=February 24, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref> A photo of Abu Khaled al-Suri, Hassan Abboud, and Abu Firas al-Suri was released.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orton |first1=Kyle |title=Interesting picture being circulated: Abu Khalid as-Suri, Ahrar a-Sham's founder, Hassan Aboud, + Abu Firas as-Suri.pic.twitter.com/C0kfs0FcP7 |url=https://twitter.com/KyleWOrton/status/716739780772540416 |website=@KyleWOrton |language=en |date=3 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Joscelyn |first1=Thomas |title=Should further embarrass Ahrar al Sham's apologists in West. Abu Firas al Suri w/ Hassan Abboud, Abu Khalid al Suripic.twitter.com/nLzoTqn48I |url=https://twitter.com/thomasjoscelyn/status/716736033052880896 |website=@thomasjoscelyn |language=en |date=3 April 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Lister |first1=Charles |title=Interesting, unseen pic showing Abu Firas al-Suri with Ahrar al-Sham founder Hassan Abboud w. Abu Khaled al-Suripic.twitter.com/oh2I7zVOaN |url=https://twitter.com/Charles_Lister/status/716735336156569600 |website=@Charles_Lister |language=en |date=3 April 2016}}</ref>

Abu Khaled al-Suri was mentioned by Abu Firas al-Suri in a Nusra video which released more information on Abu Firas, such as his previous [[Muslim Brotherhood]] affiliation and his association with bin Laden and [[Abdullah Azzam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2014/03/al_qaeda_veteran_app.php |title=Al Qaeda veteran appears in Al Nusrah Front video, criticizes rival |last=Joscelyn |first=Thomas |date=March 20, 2014 |website=Long War Journal |publisher=Foundation for Defense of Democracies }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*http://www.longwarjournal.org/tags/abu-khalid-al-suri

{{Al-Qaeda}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Suri, Abu Khalid al-}}
[[Category:1963 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Aleppo]]
[[Category:Syrian Islamists]]
[[Category:People of the Islamic uprising in Syria]]
[[Category:Syrian exiles]]
[[Category:Assassinated Syrian people]]
[[Category:People killed in the Syrian civil war]]
[[Category:Syrian al-Qaeda members]]
[[Category:Syrian Salafis]]
[[Category:Salafi jihadists]]
[[Category:Assassinated al-Qaeda leaders]]
[[Category:Leaders of Islamic terror groups]]

Abu Khalid al-Suri - Revision history

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