Abu al-Walid
Abu al-Walid ابو الوليد الغامدي | |
---|---|
Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya | |
In office 2002–2004 | |
Preceded by | Ibn al-Khattab |
Succeeded by | Abu Hafs al-Urduni |
Personal details | |
Born | 1967 Baljurashi, Saudi Arabia |
Died | 16 April 2004 (aged 36-37) Tsa-Vedeno, Chechnya, Russia |
Military service | |
Battles/wars | Soviet–Afghan War Bosnian War Tajik Civil War First Chechen War Second Chechen War Battle for Height 776 |
Abu al-Walid (ابو الوليد, full name : Abdulaziz bin Omar Al-Ghamidi transliterated also known as Abu al-Waleed and also called Abu al-Walid al-Ghamdi or simply Abu Walid; 1967 – 16 April 2004) was a Saudi Arabian of the Ghamd tribe who fought as a "mujahid" volunteer in Central Asia, the Balkans, and the North Caucasus. He was killed in April 2004 in Chechnya by the Russian federal forces.
Al-Walid was one of the most prominent Arabs fighting in Chechnya. In 2002 he took over as
Abu al-Walid was accused by Russians of terrorist attacks on civilians, and alleged to be an agent of Saudi intelligence, the Muslim Brotherhood, or Bin Laden's al-Qaeda.[1] He never responded or admitted to any of the charges, but condemned abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya.[2]
Identity
During his lifetime, al-Walid stayed out of the spotlight. His predecessor, Ibn al-Khattab (more commonly known as Khattab), was known to have a personal camera crew of two who followed him into combat. Speculation arose about al-Walid's identity, whereabouts and actions, and occasionally there were rumours of his death. A persistent rumour was that he had drowned in June 2002, carried off on his horse after trying to ford a river.[1] Russian officials announced his death at least seven times.[3] At one point, even his very existence was deemed doubtful.[4]
On 23 June 2002, his family gave an interview to the Saudi newspaper
Biography
Early life
Al-Walid was raised in the village of al-Hal, near the city of
Afghanistan, Bosnia and Tajikistan
In 1986, when he was 19 years old, al-Walid obtained his parents' permission to participate in jihad in Afghanistan. He soon left for the country to join the mujahideen in their fight against the Russian forces during the Soviet–Afghan War. The next two years he spent training at the Maktab al-Khidamat, an organization created by Abdullah Azzam and Osama bin Laden. They trained the international volunteers and distributed funds to Islamic groups. Upon completing his training, al-Walid was assigned to a combat unit where he started fighting. On two occasions he briefly returned to Saudi Arabia, once to have an injury to his left hand treated.
After the end of the
First Chechen War
In the
Interwar period and Dagestan War
After the war, he remained in Chechnya along with most of the battalion It concentrated on setting up a network of camps in the mountainous South of the country, in which they trained Islamist rebels from throughout the
On 22 December 1997 al-Walid participated in a surprise attack on the base of the 136th Armoured Brigade of the Russian Army, stationed in Buynaksk, Dagestan.[8] This raid contributed to the growing tensions between Moscow and the newly formed government of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.
In 1999 he participated in the
After his incursion, his notoriety began to rise in Islamist circles abroad.[10]
Second Chechen War
In the
In the summer of 2001, the late Aslan Maskhadov, then president of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, appointed Abu al-Walid commander of the Eastern front.[7]
After Khattab's death on 20 March 2002, al-Walid assumed command of the IIB. Soon afterwards he released an article through the foreign Mujahideen's official website al-Qoqaz, in which he explained the circumstances surrounding Khattab's death. The release of this article also confirmed that he had taken command of the IIB.[3] Later he also issued a video-statement, in which he commented on the death of his predecessor.
On 9 April 2002, al-Walid announced that his forces had shot down the Mil Mi-24 'Hind' gunship and taken its three-man crew prisoner. It had been reported missing for two months. He released the serial number of the helicopter and detailed information about the crew members. On 16 May he issued an ultimatum to the Russian military authorities: threatening to kill the three prisoners if the Russians failed to release 20 Chechens being held in Russian prisons. The Russians did not comply. The online Chechen Islamist news agency, Kavkaz Center, claimed it has unconfirmed information that the crew had been executed.[13]
Death
Al-Walid was killed by members of
After heavy bombardment of the area, snipers ambushed and killed al-Walid.[16] Abu al-Walid's brother Ali Al Ghamdi said that Abu al-Walid was ambushed and shot by the Russian Special Forces in the forest near the village of Tsa-Vedeno. Ali said that Abu al-walid's companions were able to hide his body from the Russian forces in the forest then buried him later. He also said that the information about Abu Al-Walid's being betrayed were wrong and that his brother was shot in a fight with the Russian forces. Abu al-Walid's will was not to be filmed after his death. Vladimir Putin rewarded Yamadaev as a Hero of the Russian Federation at the Kremlin in the summer of 2005.[14]
Allegations of terrorism
Russian authorities often accused Khattab, al-Walid and other Arabs fighting in Chechnya, of involvement in terrorism. According to the
Only Basayev claimed responsibility for the latter attack, but Russian officials asserted that the "Arab methods" suggested that it was done by "Arab militants trained in Afghanistan". Al-Walid has been accused of being an agent of
Al-Walid did comment on other acts of terrorism. On 11 June 2003, the London-based Arabic newspaper
On 19 November 2003, the
On 13 March 2004, one day before the
"The enemies of God drop mines in the forests and God willing, we will return them to the Russians and they will find them on their land and in the midst of their families. (…) But perhaps we may wait a little to see the upcoming elections. If they elect someone who declares war on Chechnya, then the Russians are declaring war against the Chechens and by God we will send them these [mines]... Not only these but also things that did not cross their minds. (…) We will return these to you [Russians]… You will, God willing, see hundreds of people crippled".[2]
The Emirs of the Chechen Mujahideen have helped acquire and distribute funds provided by wealthy,
See also
- Abu Zaid Al-Kuwaiti
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Amir Abu al-Walid and the Islamic Component of the Chechen War". Central Asia – Caucasus Analyst. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Russia warned of new attacks", Al Jazeera Archived 30 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Chechnya's Abu Walid and the Saudi Dilemma", The Jamestown Foundation; Archived 25 March 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Abu Walid: Fact or Fiction?". North Caucasus Analysis. 23 September 2002. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Interview with Abu Al-Walid's family", Al-Watan, 23 June 2002 (Arabic) Archived 16 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b "The Killing of Abu al-Walid and the Russian Policy in Chechnya". Central Asia – Caucasus Analyst. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ a b c Williams, Dr. Brian (12 February 2003). "Unravelling the Links between the Middle East and Islamic Militants in Chechnya". Central Asia – Caucasus Analyst. Archived from the original on 6 December 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2010.
- ^ Chechen Gunmen Attack Russian Army Unit in Dagestan Archived 22 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Heroes of Jihad in Chechnya". Kavkaz Center (UK). Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ "The 'Chechen Arabs': An Introduction to the Real Al-Qaeda Terrorists From Chechnya". Terrorism Monitor. 5 May 2005. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ "Military Review; Ulus-Kert: An Airborne Company's Last stand" (PDF). Usacac.army.mil. 7 February 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ "The battle of Ulus-Kert gives no rest to Moscow". Chechen Press. Retrieved 3 April 2012.
- ^ "CHECHEN REBEL DEADLINE PASSES, CAPTURED PILOTS' FATE UNKNOWN". Monitor. 21 May 2002. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
- ^ a b "Going in hard with the guerrilla hunters of Chechnya". The Sunday Times. 15 May 2005. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Commander Abul Walid has been martyred". Kavkaz Center. 19 April 2004. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b c "ABU HAFS AL-URDANI: THE QUIET MUJAHID". North Caucasus Analysis Volume: 6 Issue: 5. 1 February 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2021. Retrieved 11 July 2011.
- ^ "So what did Abu-Walid say?". Kavkaz Center. 25 November 2003. Archived from the original on 26 June 2011. Retrieved 26 June 2011.
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: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
External links
- Articles
- (The Jamestown Foundation’s Chechnya Weekly) The Rise and Fall of Foreign Fighters in Chechnya
- (The Sunday Times) Saudi warlord leads Russian bombers
- Websites
- Video