DEBKAfile reports exclusively: Abu al-Walid al Ghamdi, Saudi al Qaeda commander in Chechnya, has been killed in undisclosed circumstances. Known also as Emir al-Walid, he dispatched Chechen contingent to Iraqi Sunni Triangle to fight with insurgents, including Fallujah. Al-Ghamdi also selected Saudi and Gulf al Qaeda units for combat in Iraq under his command. His death is major blow for al Qaeda's Iraq operation and Chechen involvement.
| It'd be nice to see some confirmation. If it's true, that'll be a second day of ululation for Rantburgers... |
From the Daily Telegraph... Identical wording in News.com.au...
THE commander of Arab fighters in Chechnya, Saudi Abdul Aziz al-Ghamdi (alias Abul Walid), has died in the war-torn Russian republic, a family member said today. Ghamdi's brother said the family, based in the eastern city of Dammam, had received news of his "martyrdom" this morning, but did not say how he had died. The Saudi website Islam Today said Ghamdi had "been hit (stabbed or shot) in the back" while preparing for prayers on Friday.
Reuters (thanks to Lux)... Looking better...
Russian troops have killed four Chechen rebels linked to guerrilla leader Shamil Basayev near Chechnya this weekend, capping a week-long crackdown on separatists in the turbulent Caucasus region. The leader of Arab fighters in Muslim Chechnya, Saudi-born Abu al-Waleed al-Ghamdi with close links to Basayev, was among those killed there in recent days, his brother said on Sunday.
| That'd be the above reports... |
| And that'd be the Vostok battalions and OMON, below... |
| That'd be the report from Thursday... |
| The accounts hold together nicely, but still just that single source... |
Here's the Islam OnLine version...
Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamdi, the commander of Arab fighters in Chechnya, has been killed, a family member confirmed Sunday, April 18. A brother of Ghamdi, aka Abul Walid, said the family had received news of his martyrdom Sunday morning, but did not say how the 34-year-old commander had died, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP). The Saudi website Islam Today said Ghamdi had "been hit in the back" while preparing for prayers on Friday, April 16, adding the incidents took place in one of the camps of the mujahedeen fighting the Russian occupation forces in Chechnya. The brother, who asked not to be named, told AFP the family were receiving condolences at their home.| I think I'll break out another bottle of cheap champagne... |
| His successor will be a Soddy, too. Who do you think is really running things in Chechnya? |
| Of course. |
And from the Arab Times (but via Reuters)...The leader of Arab fighters in Chechnya, Saudi-born Abu al-Waleed al-Ghamdi, was killed in the rebel Russian region a few days ago, his brother said on Sunday. Abu al-Waleed is said by the Kremlin to be among those behind February's bombing of the Moscow underground. "My brother has been martyred," Abdullah al-Saeed al-Ghamdi told Reuters by telephone from the Saudi capital Riyadh. "We don't have any details but we know he was killed recently," he added. "We received the news yesterday and now people are coming to congratulate us on his martyrdom."
| "Congratulations. He's dead." |
Jihad Unspun sez he's a deader, too...
It has been confirmed that Sheikh al-Qaaid Abdul Aziz Al-Ghamidi, also known as Abu Waleed, leader of the Islamic Chechen Resistance was killed yesterday after Maghrib. We ask Allah (swt) to accept all his great deeds and to accept him as Shaheed. There appears to be suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and no one yet is clear about what exactly happened. Al-Jazeera’s special source said that they are not sure who did this operation whether it was a group who were against Chechyna and attached to the Russian secret services. The news of his death was confirmed by his mother via telephone. She said her son loved the deen, and Allah and his Messenger. Abu Waleed, a Saudi national took over leadership of the Chechen Mujahideen after Ibn Ul-Khattab, the previous Commander, was poisoned by the Russians almost two years ago.