Overview

Sami Jasim is a U.S.-designated ISIS senior leader. Jasim, who was a deputy to former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, served as the group’s finance chief. On October 11, 2021, Jasim was arrested in a “complex external operation” by the Iraqi National Intelligence Service in either Turkey or northwestern Syria.Frank Gardner, “Iraq claims capture of IS financial chief in operation abroad,” BBC News, October 11, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58868803; Ahmed Rasheed, “EXCLUSIVE Turkish intelligence helped Iraq capture Islamic State leader, sources say,” Reuters, October 12, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-turkish-intelligence-helped-iraq-capture-islamic-state-leader-sources-2021-10-12/.

According to media sources, Jasim allegedly pledged allegiance to Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and served as a foot soldier for the terror group in 2003 when a U.S.-led force invaded Iraq.Louisa Loveluck and Mustafa Salim, “Iraq announces arrest of top ISIS financial figure in operation abroad,” Washington Post, October 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-announces-isis-leader-capture/2021/10/11/ffbd0ab0-2a6a-11ec-b17d-985c186de338_story.html. Jasim later met Baghdadi in 2012, and went on to serve multiple positions throughout ISIS’s various judicial, financial, and industry ministries.Louisa Loveluck and Mustafa Salim, “Iraq announces arrest of top ISIS financial figure in operation abroad,” Washington Post, October 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-announces-isis-leader-capture/2021/10/11/ffbd0ab0-2a6a-11ec-b17d-985c186de338_story.html.

In 2014, Jasim served as an ISIS deputy in southern Mosul where he began working as the group’s finance minister. In that role, Jasim supervised ISIS’s revenue-generating operations including the illicit sales of oil, gas, antiquities, and minerals.Sirwan Kajjo, “Could Move by US Against IS Trio Weaken Terror Group?,” Voice of America, August 29, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_could-move-us-against-trio-weaken-terror-group/6174831.html. According to officials at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Jasim had allegedly overseen revenues of more than $1 billion a year.Anshal Vohra, “Iraqi forces capture Sami Jasim Muhammad al-Jaburi, Islamic State’s finance chief,” Times, October 11, 2021, https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/iraqi-forces-capture-sami-jasim-muhammad-al-jaburi-islamic-states-finance-chief-wzkt00c6g.

On October 2, 2015, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Jasim as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).“Sanctions Actions Pursuant to Executive Orders 13224,” Federal Register, October 2, 2015, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-10-02/pdf/2015-25070.pdf. Although Iraqi Kurdish intelligence officials claimed Jasim was killed in a joint U.S.-Kurdish operation near Ambar, western Iraq in August 2016, it was later reported Jasim was not among the targeted members in that raid.Sirwan Kajjo, “Could Move by US Against IS Trio Weaken Terror Group?,” Voice of America, August 29, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_could-move-us-against-trio-weaken-terror-group/6174831.html. On August 29, 2019, the U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program announced a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to the capture of Jasim.Sirwan Kajjo, “Could Move by US Against IS Trio Weaken Terror Group?,” Voice of America, August 29, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_could-move-us-against-trio-weaken-terror-group/6174831.html.

Although ISIS was militarily defeated in Iraq by 2014, the group continued to carry out small-scale attacks in the country’s hinterlands, with many members reportedly hiding out in cities throughout the country.Sirwan Kajjo, “Could Move by US Against IS Trio Weaken Terror Group?,” Voice of America, August 29, 2019, https://www.voanews.com/a/extremism-watch_could-move-us-against-trio-weaken-terror-group/6174831.html. The jihadist group has primarily converted to an insurgency and continues to conduct hit-and-run attacks.Frank Gardner, “Iraq claims capture of IS financial chief in operation abroad,” BBC News, October 11, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58868803.

Following the death of Baghdadi in 2019, Jasim became a close aide to Baghdadi’s successor, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi.“Iraqi forces capture senior Islamic State leader, PM says,” Reuters, October 11, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraqi-forces-capture-deputy-is-slain-leader-baghdadi-pm-2021-10-11/. Jasim’s role in ISIS expanded from not only overseeing the group’s finances, but also coordinating attacks between Iraq and Syria.“Iraqi forces capture senior Islamic State leader, PM says,” Reuters, October 11, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraqi-forces-capture-deputy-is-slain-leader-baghdadi-pm-2021-10-11/. At some point, Jasim reportedly became one of a dozen members of ISIS’s top leadership council, the delegated committee.Frank Gardner, “Iraq claims capture of IS financial chief in operation abroad,” BBC News, October 11, 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58868803; “Iraqi forces capture senior Islamic State leader, PM says,” Reuters, October 11, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraqi-forces-capture-deputy-is-slain-leader-baghdadi-pm-2021-10-11/.

On October 11, 2021, Iraqi security forces—with the help of key Turkish intelligence—captured Jasim in a “complex external operation” in either Turkey or northwestern Syria.“Iraq arrests IS finance chief wanted by US 'in Turkey',” France 24, October 11, 2021, https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211011-iraq-arrests-is-finance-chief-wanted-by-us-in-turkey; Ahmed Rasheed, “EXCLUSIVE Turkish intelligence helped Iraq capture Islamic State leader, sources say,” Reuters, October 12, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-turkish-intelligence-helped-iraq-capture-islamic-state-leader-sources-2021-10-12/. Although Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi did not confirm where the operation took place, an Iraqi military source told media that Jasim was captured in Turkey. However, other military sources allege Jasim was captured in northwestern Syria.Ahmed Rasheed, “EXCLUSIVE Turkish intelligence helped Iraq capture Islamic State leader, sources say,” Reuters, October 12, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/exclusive-turkish-intelligence-helped-iraq-capture-islamic-state-leader-sources-2021-10-12/. Jasim, who is currently in Iraqi custody, is only the second senior ISIS member to be captured alive.“Iraqi forces capture senior Islamic State leader, PM says,” Reuters, October 11, 2021, https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iraqi-forces-capture-deputy-is-slain-leader-baghdadi-pm-2021-10-11/; Louisa Loveluck and Mustafa Salim, “Iraq announces arrest of top ISIS financial figure in operation abroad,” Washington Post, October 11, 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/iraq-announces-isis-leader-capture/2021/10/11/ffbd0ab0-2a6a-11ec-b17d-985c186de338_story.html.