Tariq bin al-Tahar bin al-Falih al-'Awni al-Harzi
Tariq bin al-Tahar bin al-Falih al-'Awni al-Harzi (3 May 1982 – 16 June 2015) was a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) rebel group, born in Tunis and a Tunisian citizen. He was one of the first foreign fighters to join ISIL.[1]
Harzi was known as the "emir of suicide bombers", because he orchestrated hundreds of suicide attacks, including scores executed by jihadists from across the globe.[2] Harzi was in charge of receiving foreign fighter recruits and giving them light weapons training before sending them into Syria, according to the US Treasury report.[1] He was also said to have been involved in fundraising for the group in Qatar and raised $2 million that was to be sent to ISIL in September 2013.[3]
On September 24, 2014 al Harzi was added by the US Treasury Department as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist with a long list of alternate names and several alternative birthdates. His Tunisian passport number was Z-050399.[4][2] On May 5, 2015 The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program offered an reward of US$3 million for information leading to his capture.[5]
Tariq al-Harzi was killed in a US drone strike at Shaddadi in north-eastern Syria on 16 June 2015.[6][7] His brother Ali Awni al-Harzi was killed the previous day in a US airstrike on Mosul, Iraq.[7][8]
References
- 1 2 Hirschfeld Davis, Julie (24 September 2014). "Treasury imposes terrorism sanctions". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- 1 2 Roggio, Bill (24 September 2014). "Senior Islamic State military commander, 'emir of suicide bombers' among Treasury's terrorism designations". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ↑ Peter Kovessy (28 September 2014). "US accuses men of raising funds for ISIL, al-Qaeda in Qatar". Doha News. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ↑ "Counter Terrorism Designations". US Department of the Treasury. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2015.
- ↑ "Rewards for Justice - Reward offers for information on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorists". U.S. Department of State. 5 May 2015. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
- ↑ Ryan, Missy (2 July 2015). "U.S. drone strike kills a senior Islamic State militant in Syria". The Washington Post. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- 1 2 Martinez, Luis (2 July 2015). "Top ISIS leader killed by US drone strike in Syria". ABC News. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
- ↑ "US airstrike kills IS operative in Iraq: official". Yahoo! News. AFP. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 2 July 2015.