Muhsin al-Fadhli
| Muhsin al-Fadhli | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
24 April 1981[1] Kuwait |
| Died |
8 July 2015 (aged 34) Sarmada, Syria |
| Allegiance |
 al-Qaeda |
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service | Unknown–2015 |
| Rank | Leader of Khorasan's external operations[2] |
| Battles/wars |
War in Afghanistan[3] |
Muhsin al-Fadhli (24 April 1981 – 8 July 2015)[5] was an alleged senior leader of Khorasan, an offshoot of the al-Nusra Front, a branch of al-Qaeda.[6][7][2]
According to media reports, al-Fadhli was a close confidant of Osama bin Laden, and one of a few people to be informed of the September 11 attacks, before they were launched.[6] He was born in Kuwait and used the aliases Abu Majid Samiyah, Abu Samia, Dawud al-Asadi, Muhsin Fadhil Ayyid al-Fadhli and Muhsin Fadil Ayid Ashur al-Fadhli.[1]
In 2012, the United States State Department identified al-Fadhli as the leader of al-Qaeda in Iran and issued a $7 million reward for his capture.[1] In mid-2013, al-Fadhli was sent to Syria on behalf of al-Qaeda emir, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in order to mediate disputes between al-Qaeda's then Iraqi branch, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and the al-Nusra Front. In February 2014, al-Fadhli was instrumental in influencing al-Qaeda to disassociate itself from ISIL.[8]
Death
Al-Fadhli was killed on 8 July 2015, when the United States carried out an airstrike, targeting a vehicle near the town of Sarmada in northwest Syria, according to the Pentagon.[5]
References
- 1 2 3 "Rewards for Justice - al-Qaida Reward Offers". U.S. State Department. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- 1 2 "French bomb-maker with Khorasan radicalized over 'several years'". Foreign Policy. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 23 July 2015.(subscription required)
- ↑ "QI.A.184.05. Muhsin Fadhil Ayed Ashour Al-Fadhli". UN Security Council Committee. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ↑ "Who is Muhsin Al-Fadhli? Khorasan Group leader believed dead in Syria airstrike". International Business Times. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- 1 2 "Key al-Qaeda figure Muhsin al-Fadhli killed in U.S. airstrike in Syria - Pentagon". BNO News. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
- 1 2 "U.S. Suspects More Direct Threats Beyond ISIS". New York Times. 20 September 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
- ↑ "Al-Qaida Reasserts Itself With Khorasan Group". NPR. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ↑ "Report: Former head of al Qaeda's network in Iran now operates in Syria". Long War Journal. 25 March 2014. Retrieved 19 October 2014.