1. Summary: The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terror group made two major announcements in the past week – the death of its Caliph, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, and the appointment of his successor, Abu Al-Hussein Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi. Very little is known about how al-Hashimi al-Qurashi died, nor about the new terror leader Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi and how he was selected. Through our investigations, JaFaJ has confirmed that Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi is Iraqi, was born in the Baghdad area, is in his mid-40s and is a member of the Hashemite clan whose members claim to be direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad. For the time being, the position of the Caliph is rather symbolic because ISIS no longer controls any significant areas in either Iraq or Syria. Nonetheless, ISIS remains a potential threat as both countries remain unstable and the ISIS roots have stretched around the world.
2. On the 30th of November 2022, the Islamic State in Syria and Iraq (ISIS) posted an online audio message through its media arm, Al Furqan Group. In the message, ISIS spokesman Abu Omar Al Muhajir announced the death of the terror group’s “Caliph”, Abu al-Hasan al-Hashimi al-Qurashi in battle “fighting the enemies of God”.
3. Without providing any details about the terror leader’s death, Abu Omar Al-Muhajir declared a successor, Abu Al-Hussein Al-Husseini Al-Qurashi, as the new Caliph.
Who is Al-Qurashi?
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4. ISIS spokesman did not disclose any details about Al-Qurashi other than him being a “veteran jihadist”. This has caused all forms of speculations about ISIS’s actions, specifically for not parading their “Caliph” as usual. Some even went as far as claiming Al-Qurashi did not exit.
Some Confirmation About Al-Quraishi
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5. While not much information is available about the new ISIS Caliph, JaFaJ has confirmed what several Western intelligence agencies know to date: that he is an Iraqi national born and raised in the central area around Baghdad, is in his mid-40s and has was captured and imprisoned by the US troops during the US occupation of Iraq sometime between 2005 and 2006. Additionally, he is a Hashemite, and thus claims to be a direct descendant of The Prophet Muhammad. [COMMENT: Millions around the world claim to be Hashemites. This claim is a general sense of entitlement, with the Hashemites being “the preferred” rule of Muslim nations. This is why the Kings of Jordan and Morocco highly publicize their Hashemite heritage. END COMMENT]
Nothing Unexpected
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6. JaFaJ has confirmed that the selection of the mystery ISIS leader is not surprising, because both of the previous ISIS “Caliphs” were Iraqi Sunnis, in their 40s, and grew up around the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as well as belonging to the Hashemite clan. [COMMENT: The two previous ISIS leaders were Hashemites, including Abu Baker Al-Baghdadi and Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi al-Qurashi who was killed in an American military operation last March in northwestern Syria. END COMMENT]
A Caliph of Nothing
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7. Al-Quraishi’s claim for Caliphdom is rather symbolic, because ISIS does not currently control any significant territories thanks to a series of crushing defeats at the hands of US-backed Syrian and Iraqi troops. Even so, they are active in a variety of nations, either directly or through the support of other terrorist organizations, and if allowed to flourish, can (and will) cause problems. As a result, security in both Syria and Iraq remains fragile, a situation that ISIS will not miss to exploit when the window of opportunity presents itself.