Tarkhan Ismailovich Gaziyev

Tarkhan Ismailovich Gaziyev is the U.S.-designated leader of Tarkhan Jamaat, a Syrian-based ISIS-linked group.“Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters,” U.S. Department of State, September 29, 2015, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247433.htm#. The group is composed of former fighters in the Chechen insurgency who traveled to Syria in 2010. The group operates in Syria’s Latakia province.Thomas Joscelyn, “US government targets Islamic State’s foreign fighters in new designations,” Long War Journal, September 29, 2015, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/09/treasury-targets-islamic-states-foreign-fighters-in-new-designations.php;
Joanna Paraszczuk, “Criminal Cases Opened Against Two Chechens Suspected Of Fighting In Syria,” Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, April 27, 2015, http://www.rferl.org/content/chechens-criminal-case-syria-fighting/26981356.html.

Gaziyev hails from the North Caucasus region in Russia. He joined the Chechen insurgency in 2003 and, in 2007, became the “Caucasus Emirate Commander of the Southwestern Front in Chechnya,” according to the U.S. Department of State. Gaziyev carried out numerous attacks under this position.Elsa Buchanan, “Isis: Who is on the US most-wanted jihadist list,” International Business Times (London), October 1, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/isis-who-are-us-most-wanted-jihadists-list-1522031. He split from insurgency forces in 2010, and traveled to Syria via Turkey, where he established Tarkhan Jamaat.“Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters,” U.S. Department of State, September 29, 2015, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247433.htm#; “QDi.366 Tarkhan Ismailovich Gaziev,” United Nations Security Council, October 2, 2015, http://www.un.org/sc/committees//1267/NSQDi366E.shtml;
“Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters,” U.S. Department of State, September 29, 2015, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247433.htm#.

On September 29, 2015, the United States Department of State designated Gaziyev as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).“Designations of Foreign Terrorist Fighters,” U.S. Department of State, September 29, 2015, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2015/09/247433.htm#. He was further designated by the United Nations and European Union in October 2015.“Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Names of Six Individuals to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations, October 2, 2015, http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12067.doc.htm; “Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/1815,” EUR-Lex, October 8, 2015, http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32015R1815. Gaziyev is also wanted by Russian authorities for terrorism-related crimes committed inside its borders.“QDi.366 Tarkhan Ismailovich Gaziev,” United Nations Security Council, October 2, 2015, http://www.un.org/sc/committees//1267/NSQDi366E.shtml.

Also Known As
  • Abu Asim
  • Abu Bilalal
  • Abu Yasir
  • Emir Tarkhan
  • Husan
  • Husan Isaevich Gaziev

Extremist entity
ISIS
Type(s) of Organization:
Insurgent, territory-controlling, religious, terrorist, violent
Ideologies and Affiliations:
Islamist, jihadist, pan-Islamist, Salafist, takfiri
Position(s):
Foreign fighter, leader of the ISIS-linked Tarkhan Jamaat group

ISIS is a violent jihadist group based in Iraq and Syria. The group has declared wilayas (provinces) in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the North Caucasus. ISIS has also waged attacks in Turkey, Lebanon, France, Belgium, Iraq, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tunisia, and Kuwait.

  • Designations

United States

United Nations

  • October 2, 2015

    The United Nations’ Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee added Gaziyev to its sanctions list.“Security Council Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee Adds Names of Six Individuals to Its Sanctions List,” United Nations, October 2, 2015, http://www.un.org/press/en/2015/sc12067.doc.htm.

European Union

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We reiterate once again that the brigades will directly target US bases across the region in case the US enemy commits a folly and decides to strike our resistance fighters and their camps [in Iraq].

Abu Ali al-Askari, Kata’ib Hezbollah (KH) Security Official Mar. 2023
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