Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi#Death

According to Turkish claims, Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini joined the Islamic State in early 2013. 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).{{Cite web |date=30 November 2022 |title=Islamic State leader Abu Hasan al-Qurashi killed, names successor |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/islamic-state-says-its-leader-abu-hasan-al-qurashi-killed-report-101669823999454.html |access-date=30 November 2022 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Kourdi |first=Eyad |date=30 November 2022 |title=ISIS acknowledges the death of its leader, announces his successor |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/middleeast/isis-leader-dies-intl/index.html |website=CNN |language=en}}

Abu al-Hussein was described as a veteran of Islamic State and a loyal member of the group.{{cite web |author=Aymenn Jawad Al-Tamimi |url=https://aymennaltamimi.substack.com/p/so-they-kill-or-are-killed-islamic |title="So They Kill or Are Killed"- Islamic State Speech Announcing Death of Leader and Appointment of Successor |website=aymennaltamimi.substack.com|date=2 December 2022 }} 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,{{cite tweet |author=Tore Refslund Hamming |user=ToreRHamming |number=1610549699144208384 |date=4 January 2023 |title=Abd al-Raouf al-Muhajir was elected new amir of idarat al-'ammat al-wilayat on 24 June 2020, taking over after the death of Abu Sa'ad al-Shimali https://t.co/7TqBQCfZtj |language=en |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126172627/https://twitter.com/ToreRHamming/status/1610549699144208384 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |author=Tore Refslund Hamming |user=ToreRHamming |number=1610521816774348801 |date=4 January 2023 |title=Arguably the most important leader within the Islamic State. IS supporters are once again sharing an image of Abu Jassim Salman aka Abd al-Raouf al-Muhajir, who is believed to be amir of the General Administration of Provinces that by and large replaced the delegrated committee https://t.co/WhZ9WRRz2n |language=en |access-date=10 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126175701/https://twitter.com/ToreRHamming/status/1610521816774348801 |archive-date=26 January 2023 |url-status=live}} emir of Islamic State's administration.{{Cite web|url=https://tamtam.chat/EX_ISIS2/AYXuyWszADU|title=صانع الملوك لن يسمح عبد الرؤوف المهاجر (أبو سارة العراقي) ان يسلم منصب "الخليفة"|website=TamTam|accessdate=11 March 2023}}

File:Places from where pledges of allegiance have been documented by Islamic State official media to Islamic State caliph Abu al-Hussein.jpg

By 19 January 2023, Abu al-Hussein had received pledges from all Islamic State provinces,{{cite web | url=https://jihadology.net/2022/12/01/the-islamic-states-third-bayat-campaign/ | title=The Islamic State's Third Bayat Campaign|date=1 December 2022|website=jihadology.net}}{{cite web | url=https://www.hstoday.us/featured/how-the-targeted-killing-of-isis-leaders-revives-the-terror-groups-ideology/ | title=How the Targeted Killing of ISIS Leaders Revives the Terror Group's Ideology – HS Today | date=15 January 2023 }} and also from Islamic State supporters in around 40 countries.{{Cite web|url=https://gnet-research.org/2023/03/06/soliciting-online-bay%ca%bfat-pro-islamic-state-responses-to-abu-al-hassan-al-hashimi-al-qurashis-death/|title=Soliciting Online Bayʿat: Pro-Islamic State Responses to Abu al-Hassan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi's Death|first=Meili|last=Criezis|accessdate=11 March 2023}} He also received some pledges of support from outside people who were not previously part of the group.{{cite tweet |author=jihadoScope |user=JihadoScope |number=1613391293538861056 |date=12 January 2023 |title=Salafi influencer with tens of thousands of followers on social media & on run from Saudi authorities, surfaces in Yemen, releasing video pledging allegiance to ISIS. Tells supporters to watch/listen to Islamic State, underlines potency of jihadist outreach online |language=en |access-date=23 February 2023}}{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/video_2023-01-13_10-33-55 | title=#SaudiArabia One of the mosque preachers in #Riyadh declares in front of the worshipers his loyalty to the current IS leader Abu Al-Husayn }}

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.{{cite news | title=تحديد هوية زعيم "داعش" الجديد مهمة استخبارية صعبة | website=Al Araby | date=11 April 2023 | url=https://www.alaraby.co.uk/politics/%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B5%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9 | language=ar | access-date=15 April 2023}}

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,{{cite web | url=https://al-aalem.com/news/71235-%D8%A3%D9%86%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D9%85%D9%82%D8%AA%D9%84-%D8%B2%D8%B9%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D8%B3%D9%83%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9 | title=أنباء عن مقتل زعيم داعش بعملية عسكرية في صحراء الأنبار | date=26 February 2023 }} 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.{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Chris |date=2023-06-28 |title=Islamic State leader 'killed in airstrike' as special forces bomb Iraq hideout |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/islamic-state-leader-killed-airstrike-30346705 |access-date=2023-06-30 |website=mirror |language=en}}

File:Pictures of house where Abu Al-Husayn was killed and his dead body.jpg

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.{{Cite web |date=30 April 2023 |title=Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan: MİT, DEAŞ'ın sözde liderini etkisiz hale getirdi |trans-title=President Erdoğan: The so-called leader of the terrorist organization DAESH was neutralized by the operation carried out by the MIT in Syria. |url=https://www.trthaber.com/haber/gundem/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-mit-deasin-sozde-liderini-etkisiz-hale-getirdi-763852.html |access-date=30 April 2023 |website=TRT Haber |language=tr}}{{Cite news |date=2023-04-30 |title=Suspected Islamic State chief Qurayshi killed in Syria, Turkey says |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-65445007 |access-date=2023-05-13}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230501-turkey-offers-details-of-islamic-state-chief-s-death |title=Turkey offers details of Islamic State chief's death |publisher=France 24 |date=1 May 2023 }} The United States said it had no information to verify Turkey's claims.{{cite web |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-not-backing-turkish-claims-islamic-state-leader-is-dead/7073730.html |title=US Not Backing Turkish Claims Islamic State Leader is Dead |publisher=Voice of America News |date=1 May 2023 }}

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.{{cite web | title=(Photo) Alleged Islamic State (IS) Document Denying the Death of Caliph Abu al-Hussain al-Hussaini al-Qurashi is Being Distributed at al-Hol, al-Hasakah Province, Syria - 15 May 2023 | website=TRAC | date=15 May 2023 | url=https://trackingterrorism.org/chatter/is-document-denying-the-death-of-the-caliph-is-distributed-at-al-hol/ | access-date=25 June 2023}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2023-08-03 |title=Islamic State confirms death of its leader, names replacement |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/islamic-state-confirms-death-its-leader-names-his-replacement-2023-08-03/ |access-date=2023-08-04}} 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.{{Cite web |title=ISIL confirms death of leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, names successor |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/3/isil-confirms-death-of-leader-abu-hussein-al-qurashi-names-successor | date=2023-08-03 |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Al Jazeera}} The message also named Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi as Abu al-Hussein's successor and caliph of the Islamic State.{{Cite web |title=ISIL confirms death of leader Abu Hussein al-Qurashi, names successor |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/3/isil-confirms-death-of-leader-abu-hussein-al-qurashi-names-successor |access-date=2024-03-23 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

On 4 August, HTS in an official statement denied Islamic State's claim that they killed Abu al-Hussein.{{cite tweet |user=azelin |title=HTS disputing IS's claim that the group killed IS's recent leader Abu al-Husayn al-Husayni |number=1687563920444178432 |date=4 August 2023 }} However, United States officials agreed that HTS was behind the death of Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Quraishi.{{cite web |url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2023/08/us-officials-challenge-turkeys-claim-have-killed-islamic-state-leader |title=US officials challenge Turkey's claim to have killed Islamic State leader |publisher=Al-Monitor |date=16 August 2023 }}

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Category:Syrian Salafis

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