Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir

Former official spokesman for IS

Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir

ابو الحسن المهاجر

Born|

Hasan al-Utaybi

Riyadh

Died| 30 October 2019(2019-10-30) (aged 41–42)

Ayn al-Bayda, Jarabulus

Cause of death| Air strike
Nationality| Saudi Arabian
Occupation| Official spokesman of the Islamic State
Successor| Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi
Movement|  Islamic State
Criminal charge(s)| Designated a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council and the US State Department

Islamic spokesman (died 2019)

Hasan al-Utaybi (Arabic: حسن العتيبي) known by his nom de guerre Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir (Arabic: أبو الحسن المهاجر; died 27 October 2019)[1] was the kunya used by the official spokesman of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant from 5 December 2016 until 27 October 2019, when he was killed in a U.S. airstrike in northwest Syria. He was a Saudi national.[2] He was replaced by Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi

## History[edit]

Abul-Hasan was the successor of Abu Mohammad al-Adnani, who was killed while visiting the Aleppo frontlines in Syria in August 2016.[3] He was believed to have been a foreigner due to his kunya identifying him as "al-Muhajir" meaning "the emigrant". After his death, he was confirmed to be a Saudi national on 31 October.[4]

### Speeches[edit]

* "And You Will Remember What I [Now] Say To You" – 5 December 2016
* "So Be Patient. Indeed, The Promise Of God Is Truth" – 4 April 2017[5]
* "And When The Believers Saw The Companies" – 12 June 2017[6]
* "So From Their Guidance Take An Example" – 22 April 2018[7]
* "The Mujāhidīn’s Assault on the Tower of the Polytheists" – 26 September 2018
* "He Was True To God, So [God] Was True To Him" – 18 March 2019[8]

### Speculation about identity[edit]

In an article published in The Atlantic, journalist Graeme Wood postulates that Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir is Texas-born John Georgelas, also known as Yahya Abu Hassan, though he later cast doubt on his theory, and al-Bahrumi was eventually killed in October 2017.[9] Italian media has also speculated that al-Muhajir studied at the Black Swan Rock School of Music in Luserna San Giovanni.[10]

## Biography[edit]

Abul Hassan Al-Muhâjir's real name was Hasân al-'Utaybî, a graduate of shari'a studies from Muhammad b. Sa'ûd University in Riyâdh, Saudi Arabia fled his country during the crackdown on the original #AQAP, presumably in 2004. Arriving in 'Irâq in spring 2004 at the latest, Muhâjir joined Tawhîd wa-l-Jihâd and took part in both Fallûjah battles, the second one as part of a special group under command of the overall commander of the city - 'Umar Hadîd. Subsequently, he joined the media department of the #AQI, becoming a voice of the group. Presumably in 2013, he accompanied Abû Muhammad al-Furqân - the media minister - to Syria. He continued in the media wing, at one point as spokesman of the media ministry. In 2016, he replaced the deceased Abû Muhammad al-'Adnânî as official spokesman of #IS. Now at the latest, he occupied a top position within the group, appearing next to Abû Bakr al-Baghdâdî in the 2019 video. Later that year, he was killed in a U.S. airstrike.[11]

An Islamic State biography lauds Muhâjir for his opposition to the Khawârij - both in 'Irâq in the mid-2000s and in Syria during his tenure as official spokesman. Likely due to his background in Islamic law, he was used as a negotiator preaching to hardliners like the Hâzimîs.[11][12]

## Death[edit]

Muhajir and four others were killed on 27 October 2019 by a Central Intelligence Agency airstrike in Ayn al-Bayda,[13] near Jarablus in northwest Syria, close to the border with Turkey.[1][14] It came less than 24 hours after ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi blew himself up during a U.S. raid in Syria's Idlib Province.[15] Muhajir was described as a senior ISIS leader and Baghdadi's "right-hand man."[1]

On 29 October, U.S. President Donald Trump stated on social media that al-Baghdadi's "number one replacement" had been killed by American forces, adding: "Most likely would have taken the top spot - Now he is also Dead!"[16] While Trump did not specify a name, a U.S. official later confirmed that Trump was referring to al-Muhajir.[17] On 31 October, ISIS confirmed al-Muhajir and al-Baghdadi's deaths.[18]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c "ISIS spokesman Al-Muhajir killed in U.S. airstrike in Syria". BNO News. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
2. ^ "IS confirms Baghdadi death and names new leader". BBC News. October 31, 2019.
3. ^ "Islamic State identifies Abi al-Hassan al-Muhajer as new spokesman". Reuters. 5 December 2016. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
4. ^ "Islamic State names its new leader as Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi". BBC News. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-31.
5. ^ Berger, J.M. (August 2017). "Countering Islamic State Messaging Through "Linkage-Based" Analysis" (PDF). Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism Studies: 3–4, 6, 8. doi:10.19165/2017.2.02. ISSN 2468-0486. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
6. ^ Hassan, Hassan (June 2017). "The Battle for Raqqa and the Challenges after Liberation". Combating Terrorism Center. United States Military Academy. 10 (6): 6. Archived from the original on 28 May 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
7. ^ Zelin, Aaaron Y. (22 April 2018). "New audio message from The Islamic State's Abul-Hasan Al-Muhajir: "So From Their Guidance Take An Example"". Jihadology. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
8. ^ Callimachi, Rukmini (18 March 2019). "ISIS Spokesman Ends Silence by Calling for Retaliation Over New Zealand Massacres". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
9. ^ Wood, Graeme (25 January 2017). "The American Climbing the Ranks of ISIS". The Atlantic. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
10. ^ Raineri, Daniele (7 July 2017). "I nuovi capi dello Stato islamico". Il Foglio (in Italian). Retrieved 5 November 2017.
11. ^ a b Al-Tamimi, Aymenn Jawad (August 16, 2023). "A Brief Biography of Former Islamic State Spokesman Abu al-Hasan al-Muhajir: Translation and Overview".
12. ^ @Mr0rangetracker (August 14, 2023). "Once more, a small thread on #IS history. The second official spokesman Abû-l-Hasan al-Muhâjir was an #AQI old-hand as me and @DanieleRaineri found out years ago based on an unofficial vidoe biography. Now, some new pieces of information emerged in written biography. 1/" (Tweet) - via Twitter.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
13. ^ "U.S. Strikes Kill ISIS Spokesperson One Day After Baghdadi's Death in Syria Raid". Newsweek. 27 October 2019.
14. ^ "Kurdish YPG: Islamic State spokesman killed in Syria". Reuters. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
15. ^ "ISIS Leader al-Baghdadi Is Dead, Trump Says". The New York Times. October 27, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
16. ^ "Trump says al-Baghdadi's 'number one replacement' is dead". Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera Media Network. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
17. ^ "Trump says likely Baghdadi successor killed by U.S. troops". Reuters. October 29, 2019. Retrieved October 29, 2019.
18. ^ "Islamic State confirms Baghdadi's death, names new 'Emir of the Faithful'". Long War Journal. 1 November 2019.

* v
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Islamic State

Names of the Islamic State

Members
(List of leaders)|

| Current|

* Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu Hudayfah Al-Ansari
* Abu Fatima al-Jaheishi
* Abu Yusaf
* Abu al-Baraa el-Azdi
* Abu Habib al-Libi
* Abu Jandal al-Masri
* Zulfi Hoxha
* Bajro Ikanović
* Faysal Ahmad Ali al-Zahrani
* Fatiha Mejjati
* Ahlam al-Nasr
* Issam Abuanza

|

† Former|

* Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
* Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi
* Abu al-Hussein al-Husseini al-Qurashi
* Abu Ahmad al-Alwani
* Haji Bakr
* Abu Usamah al-Maghrebi
* Abu Abdulrahman al-Bilawi
* Abu Muhannad al-Suwaydawi
* Abdul Rauf Aliza
* Abu Sayyaf
* Ali Awni al-Harzi
* Tariq al-Harzi
* Abu Khattab al-Tunisi
* Maher Meshaal
* Abu Muslim al-Turkmani
* Abu Saleh
* Mohammed Emwazi
* Abu Nabil al-Anbari
* Abu Ali al-Anbari
* Abu Waheeb
* Ali Aswad al-Jiburi
* Abu Omar al-Shishani
* Abu Mohammad al-Adnani
* Abu Hamza Al-Qurashi
* Abu Muhammad al-Furqan
* Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti
* Abu Bilal al-Harbi
* Ahmad Abousamra
* Turki al-Binali
* Tareq Kamleh
* Lavdrim Muhaxheri
* Abu Osama al-Masri
* Abul-Hasan al-Muhajir
* Abu Muhammad al-Shimali
* Gulmurod Khalimov
* Abdul Nasser Qardash (captured)
* Abu Yasser al-Issawi
* Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi
* Yusuf al-Hindi
* Abu Omar al-Muhajir (captured)

History|

* Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (1999–2004)
* Al-Qaeda in Iraq (2004–2006)
* Mujahideen Shura Council (2006)
* Islamic State of Iraq (2006–2013)
* Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (2013–2014)
* Islamic State (2014–present)

Timeline of events|

* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020

International branches|

* Khorasan Province (Afghanistan and Pakistan)
* Libyan Provinces (Libya)
* Caucasus Province (North Caucasus)
* Sinai Province (Sinai)
* Algeria Province (Algeria)
* Yemen Province (Yemen)
* Abnaa ul-Calipha (Somalia)
* Abu Sayyaf (Philippines)
* Boko Haram (West Africa) (2015–2016)
* Greater Sahara (Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso)
* West Africa Province (West Africa)
* Central Africa Province (DR Congo and Mozambique)
* Sheikh Omar Hadid Brigade (Gaza)
* Ansar al-Khilafah Brazil (Brazil) (2016–2018)

Wars|

* War on terror
* Iraq War
* Insurgency (2003–2011)
* Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)
* Insurgency (2011–2013)
* War in Iraq (2013–2017)
* Insurgency (2017–present)
* Syrian civil war
* Spillover
* Spillover in Lebanon
* Opposition–Islamic State conflict
* Sinai insurgency
* Second Libyan Civil War
* Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
* Mozambique
* Islamist insurgency in the Sahel
* Mali War
* War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
* Conflict with Taliban
* Moro conflict (Philippines)
* al-Qaeda insurgency in Yemen
* Yemeni civil war (2014–present)
* Boko Haram insurgency
* Military intervention against IS
* US-led intervention in Iraq
* US-led intervention in Syria
* Russian intervention in Syria
* Turkish operation
* Somalia

Battles|

| 2013|

* Akashat
* Hawija
* Raqqa
* Al-Shabah
* Ras al-Ayn
* Tell Abyad
* Latakia
* Menagh
* Sidi Ali Ben Aoun
* Sadad
* Qalamoun
* Aleppo
* Al-Yaarubiyah
* Tell Hamis and Tell Brak
* Anbar

|

2014|

* Fallujah
* N Aleppo
* Markada
* N Iraq (Jun)
* Mosul
* Salahuddin
* Baiji (Jun)
* Tikrit
* N Iraq (Aug)
* Kobanî
* Sinjar (Aug)
* Derna
* Ramadi
* Deir ez-Zor
* Baiji (14–15)
* Sinjar (Dec)
* Zumar
* Amirli

2015|

* Nofaliya
* W Africa
* Egyptian airstrikes in Libya
* Niger raid
* E al-Hasakah
* Tikrit
* Sirte
* Hama & Homs (Mar–Apr)
* Sarrin (Mar–Apr)
* Yarmouk
* Qalamoun
* Palmyra (May)
* W al-Hasakah
* Al-Hasakah city
* Tell Abyad
* Sarrin (Jun–Jul)
* Al-Hasakah
* Kobani
* Palmyra (Jul–Aug)
* Ramadi (15–16)
* Al-Qaryatayn
* Al-Hawl
* Homs (Nov–Dec)
* Sinjar
* E Aleppo (15–16)
* Niveneh Plains
* Tishrin Dam

2016|

* Deir ez-Zor (Jan)
* Fallujah (Feb–May)
* Nangarhar
* Ben Guerdane
* Ithriyah-Raqqa (Feb–Mar)
* Al-Shaddadi
* Khanasir
* Al-Qaryatayn (Mar–Apr)
* Palmyra (Mar)
* N Aleppo (Mar–Jun)
* Hīt
* Tipo-Tipo
* Sirte
* Ar-Rutbah
* N Raqqa
* Fallujah (May–Jun)
* Manbij
* Ithriyah-Raqqa (Jun)
* Abu Kamal
* al-Rai (Aug)
* N al-Bab (Sep)
* W al-Bab (Sep)
* Dabiq
* W al-Bab (Oct–Nov)
* Al-Bab
* Aleppo
* Palmyra

2017|

* Mosul (16–17)
* Raqqa (16–17)
* Palmyra
* Deir ez-Zor (Jan–Feb)
* E Aleppo (Jan–Apr)
* E Homs
* Hama
* W Nineveh
* Tabqa
* Syrian Desert (Dec 16–Apr 17)
* Syrian Desert (May–Jul)
* Maskanah
* Marawi
* Raqqa
* S Raqqa
* C Syria
* Tal Afar
* Deir ez-Zor (17–19)
* Hawija
* E Syria (Sep–Dec)
* NW Syria (Oct 17–Feb 18)
* Abu Kamal
* W Iraq

2018|

* As-Suwayda (Jun)
* S Syria
* As-Suwayda (Aug–Nov)

2019|

* Hajin
* Baghuz Fawqani
* Barisha raid

2020|

* Chinagodrar
* Mocímboa da Praia
* Al Bayda

2021|

* Tessit
* Palma
* Sambisa
* Dangarous

2022|

* Al-Hasakah
* Atme raid
* Andéramboukane
* Talataye

Attacks|

| 2014|

* Jewish Museum of Belgium shooting
* Camp Speicher massacre
* Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu ramming

|

2015|

* Hypercacher kosher supermarket siege
* Beheading of Copts in Libya
* Corinthia Hotel
* Al Qubbah bombings
* Bardo National Museum
* Sanaa bombings (Mar)
* Jalalabad bombing
* Curtis Culwell Center
* Qatif & Dammam bombings
* 26 June
* Kobanî massacre
* Saint-Quentin-Fallavier
* Kuwait mosque bombing
* Sousse
* Khan Bani Saad bombing
* Suruç bombing
* Baghdad bombing (Aug)
* Sanaa bombing (Sep)
* Ankara bombings
* 2015 Saihat shooting
* Metrojet Flight 9268
* Beirut bombings
* Paris (Nov)
* Tunis bombing
* Qamishli bombings

2016|

* Zliten truck bombing
* Hurghada
* Istanbul bombing (Jan)
* Jakarta
* Ramadi bombing
* Mahasin mosque
* Sayyidah Zaynab (Jan)
* Mosul massacre
* Homs bombings (Feb)
* Sayyidah Zaynab bombings (Feb)
* Baghdad bombings (Feb)
* Istanbul bombing (Mar)
* Brussels bombings
* Aden bombing
* Iskandariya bombing
* Baghdad bombing (Apr)
* Samawa bombing
* Gaziantep bombing (May)
* Baghdad bombings (11 May)
* Real Madrid fan club massacres
* Baghdad gas plant
* Yemen police bombings (15 May)
* Baghdad bombings (17 May)
* Jableh & Tartous bombings (May)
* Yemen bombings (23 May)
* Aktobe shootings
* Magnanville stabbing
* Mukalla (Jun)
* Movida Bar
* Atatürk Airport
* Dhaka (Jul)
* Karrada bombing
* Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hadi Mausoleum
* Würzburg train
* Kabul bombing (Jul)
* Ansbach bombing
* Normandy church
* Qamishli bombings (Jul)
* Charleroi stabbing
* Shchelkovo Highway police station
* Aden bombing (Aug)
* Syria bombings (5 Sep)
* Baghdad bombings (9 Sep)
* Baghdad bombings (Oct)
* Quetta police college
* Hamam al-Alil massacre
* Khuzdar bombing
* Samarinda bombing
* Hillah bombing (Nov)
* Aden bombings (Dec)
* Botroseya bombing
* Al-Karak
* Berlin truck
* Baghdad bombings (Dec)

2017|

* Istanbul nightclub shooting
* Baghdad bombings (2 Jan)
* Azaz bombing (Jan)
* Sehwan bombing
* Kabul (Mar)
* Westminster
* St Petersburg Metro bombing
* Egypt church bombings
* Mastung bombing
* Manchester Arena bombing
* Jakarta bombings
* Minya
* Al-Faqma bombing
* London Bridge
* Brighton siege
* Tehran
* Pakistan attacks (Jun)
* Hurghada
* Quetta bombing (Aug)
* Barcelona
* Brussels (Aug)
* Nasiriyah
* Afghanistan (20 Oct)
* Sinai mosque
* Kabul bombing (28 Dec)
* Saint Menas church

2018|

* Baghdad bombings
* Save The Children Jalalabad
* Kizlyar church shooting
* Kabul bombing (Mar)
* Carcasonne & Trèbes
* Kabul bombing (22 Apr)
* Kabul bombings (30 Apr)
* Tripoli
* Mako Brimob standoff
* Paris knife
* Surabaya bombings
* Liège
* Jalalabad bombing (Jul)
* Mastung & Bannu bombings
* Quetta bombing
* As-Suwayda
* Kabul (Sep)
* Ahvaz military parade
* Minya bus
* Melbourne stabbing

2019|

* Jolo Cathedral bombings
* Sri Lanka Easter bombings
* Sainthamaruthu shootout
* Kabul bombing (17 Aug)

2020|

* Kabul shooting (6 Mar)
* Kabul gurdwara
* Afghanistan (May)
* Jalalabad prison
* Jolo bombings
* Kabul University
* Vienna
* Afghanistan (Dec)

2021|

* Machh
* January Baghdad bombings
* Kabul school bombing
* Kabul airport
* Kunduz bombing
* Kandahar bombing
* Kampala bombings
* Kabul hospital

2022|

* Diyala massacre
* Peshawar mosque
* Hadera shooting
* Mazar-i-Sharif mosque bombing
* Mazar-i-Sharif minivan bombings
* Bourasso and Namissiguima
* 5 August Kabul bombing
* August Kabul mosque bombing
* Shah Cheragh
* Kabul hotel

2023|

* Kabul airport bombing
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan bombing
* Al-Sukhnah
* Hama
* Khar bombing
* Arras school stabbing
* Pul-i-Khumri bombing
* Brussels shooting
* Kabul bombing (Nov)
* Paris
* Mindanao State University bombing

Politics and organization|

* Finances
* Ideology
* Medicare
* Military
* Armoured warfare
* Human rights
* Genocide of Christians
* Persecution of Shias
* Genocide of Yazidis
* Genocide of Turkmen
* Persecution of gay and bisexual men
* Killing of captives
* Beheading incidents
* Destruction of cultural heritage
* Occupation of Mosul
* Executions in Mosul

Relations|

* Iran and the Islamic State
* Philippines and the Islamic State
* United Kingdom and the Islamic State
* Trinidad and Tobago and the Islamic State
* Foreign fighters
* Name changes due to the Islamic State
* Portrayal of the Islamic State in American media
* Connection with Saddam Regime and Baath Party

Society|

* Members
* Terrorist cell in Brussels
* Territorial claims
* al-Barakah district
* Collaboration

Media|

* A Second Message to America
* Al-Bayan
* AlFurat Media Center
* AlHayat Media Center
* Al-Naba
* Amaq News Agency
* Dar al-Islam
* Dabiq
* Dawlat al-Islam Qamat
* Huroof
* I'lam foundation
* Istok
* Konstantiniyye
* Rumiyah
* Salil al-Sawarim

Related topics|

* Defeating ISIS
* ISIS-chan
* Islamism
* Millenarianism
* Sexual violence in the Iraqi insurgency
* Shia–Sunni relations
* Slavery in 21st-century jihadism
* Theocracy

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