Overview

Abu Hassan al-Gharibawi was the commander, or wali, of ISIS forces in southern Iraq.Sami Moubayed, “Who Will Replace the Slain Leaders of the Islamic State?,” European Eye on Radicalization, February 15, 2021, https://eeradicalization.com/who-will-replace-the-slain-leaders-of-the-islamic-state/. Gharibawi reportedly supervised the deadly twin suicide bombings in Tayaran Square in Baghdad on January 21, 2021.Islamic State officials behind Baghdad bombing killed, prime minister says,” Al Monitor, February 4, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/iraq-isis-baghdad-attack-killed.html. Gharibawi, along with another ISIS official, was killed in a U.S.-led international coalition airstrike in Abu Ghraib on February 2, 2021.“Islamic State officials behind Baghdad bombing killed, prime minister says,” Al Monitor, February 4, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/iraq-isis-baghdad-attack-killed.html.

Not much is known about Gharibawi—also known as Jabbar Ali Fayyad—other than his role as ISIS’s commander of southern Iraq. Gharibawi reportedly supervised the January 21, 2021 twin suicide bombings at a second-had clothes market in Tayaran Square, Baghdad.“Islamic State officials behind Baghdad bombing killed, prime minister says,” Al Monitor, February 4, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/iraq-isis-baghdad-attack-killed.html; “Iraq bombing: IS says it was behind deadly suicide attacks in Baghdad,” BBC News, January 22, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55760822. The attack, which targeted Shiite Muslims, killed 32 people and wounded more than 100.“Islamic State officials behind Baghdad bombing killed, prime minister says,” Al Monitor, February 4, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/02/iraq-isis-baghdad-attack-killed.html. ISIS quickly claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement released by its Amaq News Agency.“Iraq bombing: IS says it was behind deadly suicide attacks in Baghdad,” BBC News, January 22, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-55760822. Following the double suicide attack, which was the biggest suicide attack in Baghdad in over four years, the Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS) under the direction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces launched Operation Revenge of the Martyrs. The operation, which targets ISIS fighters and remaining extremist strongholds, led to the arrest of several terrorists in Baghdad.“Iraqi Counter-Terrorism Service launch the "Revenge of the Martyrs" operation,” Shafaq News, January 22, 2021, https://shafaq.com/en/Iraq-News/Iraqi-Counter-Terrorism-Service-launch-the-Revenge-of-the-Martyrs-operation.

Gharibawi, along with fellow ISIS operative Ghanem Sabah Jawad—who was primarily responsible for transporting suicide bombers—were killed by a U.S.-led international coalition airstrike in Abu Ghraib, 18 miles west of Baghdad, on February 2, 2021. According to Yehia Rasoul, the spokesperson for Iraq’s commander-in-chief, the airstrike was conducted with the help of intelligence provided by Iraq’s interior ministry.Shelly Kittleson, “Prominent Islamic State leaders killed in Iraq,” Al Monitor, March 1, 2021, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2021/03/iraq-security-isis-tarmiya.html.