Abdul Sattar Abu Risha
Abdul Sattar Abu Risha | |
---|---|
Born | 1972 |
Died | 13 September 2007 | (aged 34–35)
Cause of death | Assassination |
Other names | Abdul Sattar Buzaigh Hisham al-Rishawi, Sheikh Sittar |
Occupation | Sunni tribal chief in Al-Anbar |
Known for | "Anbar Awakening" – opposing al-Qaeda in Iraq |
Relatives | Ahmed Abu Risha (brother) |
Abdul Sattar Abu Risha (
Abu Risha was assassinated shortly after becoming an ally of the Iraqi government through forming an organisation of fellow tribal chiefs called the Sahawat al-Anbar (
Life
Abu Risha was the grandson of a tribal leader in the
During the early part of the insurgency following the 2003 invasion of Iraq, as al-Qaeda's fighters tightened their grip on Ramadi, it is reported that they became increasingly repressive and challenged the tribal leaders' power. Soon they were kidnapping and beheading tribal Sunnis as part of a campaign of extortion and intimidation. Abdul Sattar's own father and two brothers were killed by al-Qaeda. During the late summer of 2006, he began enlisting his fellow sheikhs in Sahawat al-Anbar and encouraging members of his tribe to join the local police force. The U.S. forces under Lt. Col. Tony Deane encouraged Sattar and provided security for the initial meetings of the Al Anbar tribal meetings at Sattar's compound in western Ramadi; these early meetings were the beginning of what grew into the Anbar Salvation Council by the fall of 2006; in March 2007 the Council counted 41 clans from Anbar province.[2] The development led to a sharp reduction of violence in the province and forced many al-Qaeda fighters to flee to other regions of Iraq.
Assassination
Abu Risha was assassinated on 13 September 2007, along with three of his guards by an improvised explosive device planted on the road near the gate of his house in Ramadi.[1] Al-Qaeda took responsibility for the attack and several dozen people were arrested in connection with the killing, including the head of his own security detail.[3]
The sheikh's funeral attracted about 1,500 mourners, including Iraq's national security adviser
See also
References
- ^ a b Bomb Kills a Key Sunni Ally of U.S., The Washington Post, September 14, 2007
- ^ Sunni Sheiks Join Fight Vs. Insurgency, The Washington Post, March 25, 2007
- ^ 25 Arrests in Slaying of Prominent Sunni, Associated Press, September 21, 2007 Archived April 19, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Iraqis vow to fight al Qaeda after sheikh death, Reuters, Sep 14, 2007
- ^ Sunni Sheik Who Backed U.S. in Iraq Is Killed, The New York Times, September 14, 2007
External links
- The man who might save Iraq, Asia Times, May 5, 2007
- Obituary: Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, BBC News, September 14, 2007