QAMIŞLO
Iraqi Taha Abdurrahim Abdullah, one of the closest men of ISIS’s killed caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, has been captured by the SDF. Abdullah, a member of the ISIS High Military Council (Lijne Mufavada), was captured by the SDF forces in Derezor Baxoz on 23 March 2019.
Taha Abdurrahim Abdullah, who is still being questioned, said that the order of the Kobanê war was given by Baghdadi himself despite the objections of many members of the administration. Abdullah said, “We suffered heavy losses in Kobane. Later, we realized that the reason why Bagdadi turned our direction to Kobane in 1 night was the insistence of the Turks. The Turks demanded an attack on Kobane. Erdogan insisted.”
STAYED IN AMERICAN AND IRAQI PRISONS
Taha Abdullah, born in 1967 in Nineveh, graduated from the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of Mosul. Taha Abdullah also took part in the Tawhid Jihad Community founded by Abu Musap Zarqawi and the ‘Tanzim Qaeda al-Jihad fi Bilad er-Rafideyn’ (also known as Iraqi Al Qaeda) founded in October 2004 by Abu Musap Zarqawi.
In his investigation, Abdullah told SDF that he was captured by American forces in Iraq in September 2005 and sent to Abu Ghraib Prison. He was released in early 2007.
In September 2007, Abdullah joined the İslam Islamic State of Iraq, led by Baghdadi, and was appointed as the administrative responsible for Al Jazeera province (Til Afer and its villages). Abddurrahim stated that here, he was arrested by the Iraqi government at the end of 2007 for being a member of Al Qaeda, and was later released at the end of 2009.
CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN LEADERS
Immediately after his release, he was again appointed to administrative affairs. He served as the ‘governor’ of the Northern Province (Kirkuk, Mosul, etc.). At the end of 2011, he became the commander of the ISIS military equipment production unit in Iraq. In 2012, he was sent to Syria for manufacture.
Abdullah is sent to Syria as a commander of manufacture, despite the task being assigned by ISIS Abu Mohammad Colani (commander of Cephet Al-Nusra) prevented this work.
It is said that during this period contradictions arise between Cephet El Nusra commander Colani and ISIS leader Abu Bakr Baghdadi.
ISIS IS THE CONTINUATION OF THE ISLAMIC STATE OF IRAQ
Taha Abdullah explained that they decided to establish ISIS at the Bab meeting on April 1, 2013 and said, Bek Abu Bakr Baghdadi, me, Abu Ali Enbari, Abu Muhammad Adnani and Bellawi attended the meeting.
At this meeting, Hajj Abu Ali Enbari suggested that Damascus province (Syria) should join Iraq. This proposal was accepted by everyone present at the meeting. ISIS would be the continuation of the Islamic State of Iraq. But Colani refused to allow Al-Nusra to join ISIS and did not swear allegiance to Baghdadi.
Abdullah, in his interrogation, told officials that the name of the organization to be established as “Islamic State of Iraq and Damascus” was proposed to Baghdadi by him.
‘COMMANDER OF EUROPE, TURKEY EXPLOSIONS’
Appointed in late 2013 as responsible for the 3 states of ISIS (Dêrazor, Reqa and Hesekê) Taha Abdullah became the military production responsible of ISIS throughout Syria by the end of 2014. One month after ISIS declared the caliphate, he became a member of the audit committee responsible for overseeing the overall work in Syria. He said that in the first month of 2015, he was the commander of the audit committee.
A few months later, he was appointed as a member of Lijne Mufavada in Syria. It is known from the confessions of other high-ranking ISIS detainees that members of the Lijne Mufava are responsible for making explosions in Turkey and Europe. These explosions are carried out by Alaqat Hariciye under the command of the Lijne Mufava.
In early 2016, Abdullah was transferred to Iraq as a member of Lijne Mufavada afrer assigning his emirate (Alaqat Khadija) to Abu Muhammad Adnani in preperation for the Mosul War and administrative affairs. During this period, as a member of Lijne Mufavada, he was responsible for Damascus province (Syria) and Alaqat Hariciye (Europe and Turkey).
‘ERDOĞAN WANTED US TO ATTACK IN KOBANE’
Abdullah also gave important information about ISIS’s Kobanê attack which started on 13 September 2014. He said that this attack order was given by Baghdadi himself, saying, “we were preparing for war, but our goal was not to go to Kobanê but to Damascus. Baghdadi wanted Kobanê to be attacked. We objected to this situation. But he refused. We suffered heavy losses in Kobanê. Later we learned that the reason why Bagdadi turned our direction to Kobane in 1 night was the insistence of the Turks. The Turks demanded an attack on Kobane. Erdogan insisted. Then Abu Yasir Iraki, the commander of this war, was sent to Iraq to be silenced. Abu Yasir realized this situation.”
‘THE BEST PLACE FOR BAGHDADI IS IDLIB’S TURKISH REGIONS’
During questioning, when Taha Abdullah was asked where Baghdadi could be found, Abdullah stated that there is a high probability of Baghdadi being in the Turkey-controlled zones of Idlib.
“Due to the presence of the Dulaim tribe, he may go to the Iraqi desert to rebuild the organization. The Dulaim tribe is a tribe known for its generosity and strong loyalty to the organization. But this may pose a threat to al-Baghdadi because of the recent support of the Iraqi government in all parts of the desert and Hashdi Shabi mobilization. Therefore, I do not think he would prefer the Iraqi desert.
There are many armed groups in Idlib. It’s more difficult to recognize there. There is a high possibility he will remain in the Turkey-controlled region in Idlib. It is the most convenient place for Baghdadi. But the areas under Colani’s control are risky for him.”
ABDULLAH QARDAŞ IS CLOSE TO TURKEY
During his interrogation, Abdullah was asked about Baghdadi’s latest images released in April. Abdullah told the SDF:
“Baghdadi is tired but is aware of what is happening around him. That’s why he finally released a video. He wants to reorganize and plan the organization as far as I understand. ”
Taha Abdurrahim Abdullah said that in August, Abdullah Qardas (Haci Abdullah) was named as the successor of Baghdadi, through ISIS news agency (Amak):
“I think Baghdadi is in the Turkish-controlled region of Idlib. The reason why Hacı Abdullah is designated as the new leader of the organization is that he has links with the Turkish state. Haji Abdullah’s brother lives in Turkey and is taking place in the Iraqi Turkmen Front. Baghdadi identified Haji Abdullah as the new leader and reorganized his business. Hacı Abdullah also uses the name ‘Abu Omer Turkmeni’. The emphasis on ‘Turkmeni’ is to satisfy the Turkish state and deepen relations.”
‘KILLING BAGHDADI WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE’
SDF Security Authority officials told Taha Abdurrahim that Baghdadi had died, and after he had been silent for a while. Abdullah eventually said:
“Baghdadi named Haci Abdullah as successor. The murder of Baghdadi, under the leadership of Haji Abdullah, will have no impact other than the reorganization, activities and re-emergence of the organization. Baghdadi has already rearranged his business, and there are strong men to run it. They will not stop,” he said.
CONFESSIONS CAN ILLUMINATE HISTORY
SDF Security Agency officials shared that Taha Abdurrahim Abdullah is a strict jihadist, that he knows many things that can illuminate hisotry and added that the interrogation continues.
Officials arrested Abdullah two days after the victory of Baxoz. Taha Abdurrahim Abdullah was identified two months after his arrest because of the use of different names to conceal real identity.
