The USG Open Source Center summarizes and partially translates a threat by the ‘Islamic State of Iraq’ [Salafi Jihadis] to kill more members of the al-Anbar Salvation Council, tribal sheikhs who are cooperating with the Americans. The organization claims to have killed the ASC leader, Sattar Abu Rishah, last week.
Statement Says Islamic State of Iraq Threatens To Kill Al-Anbar Salvation Council Members
Jihadist Websites — OSC Summary
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 . . .
‘ Terrorism: Statement Says Islamic State of Iraq Threatens To Kill Al-Anbar Salvation Council Members On 15 September, a forum participant posted to a jihadist website an unsigned statement that was intended to appear as though it had been issued by The Islamic State of Iraq. The statement discussed how The Islamic State of Iraq has succeeded in killing Abu-Rishah, the late leader of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council, and boasted that The Islamic State of Iraq will continue killing others like Abu-Rishah because Abu-Umar Al-Baghdadi has “decided to once again free Al-Anbar and purify it from the filth of the apostates, beginning in the blessed month of Ramadan.” The statement lists the names of the individuals targeted and their pictures in the form of a deck of cards.
A summary of the statement follows:
The unsigned statement is said to have been copied from another source, although the latter is not named. The statement says that The Islamic State of Iraq killed Abu-Rishah, the late leader of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council, and promised to continue killing others like him. The statement is accompanied by pictures, listing the names of the individuals targeted and their pictures on cards in a deck. The statement promises that “we will not allow the majority of your leaders to pray the Id prayer (holiday following Ramadan)” and that “the men have turned Ramadan into a graveyard for the apostates.”
The individuals named in the statement are:
–Abu-Rishah’s brother, Ahmad Abu-Rishah: “Ahmed Abu Reesha, Al-Anbar Salvation Council senior member”
–Hamid Al-Hayis: “Hamid Hayes, Al-Anbar Salvation Council senior member”
–Ali Hatim: “Ali Hatem, Al-Anbar Salvation Council senior member”
–Falih Al-Dulaymi: “Faleh Al Dolaimi, Al-Anbar Salvation Council senior member”
–Jabbar Al-Fahdawi: “Jabbar Al Fahdawi, Al-Anbar Salvation Council senior member”
The statement promises that “just as the mujahidin hunted down the head of the apostasy, Abd Al-Sattar, hours before he escaped to Jordan and right from the arms of the Americans, the mujahidin will overpower you too, God willing.” This, they say, is because Abu-Umar Al-Baghdadi has “decided to once again free Al-Anbar and to purify it from the filth of the apostates, beginning in the blessed month of Ramadan.” ‘