Abu Osama al-Masri | |
|---|---|
أبو أسامة المصري | |
| Born | Muhammad Ahmad ’Ali al-Isawi 1972/1973 |
| Died | June 2018 (aged 44-45) |
| Cause of death | Airstrike |
| Citizenship | Egyptian |
| Alma mater | Al-Azhar University |
| Occupation | Clothes importer |
| Years active | 2013-2018 |
| Organization | Islamic State |
| Known for | Emir ofIslamic State – Sinai Province |
Muhammad Ahmad ’Ali al-Isawi (Arabic:محمد أحمد علي العيساوي; 1972/1973 - June 2018), known by thekunyaAbu Osama al-Masri (Arabic:أبو أسامة المصري)[1] was anEgyptianjihadist and leader of theIslamic State branch in theSinai Peninsula, known asWilayat Sinai.[2]
Abu Osama is believed to have been born inNorth Sinai and grew up inSharqiya in theNile Delta.[3] Hiskunya means 'father of Osama, the Egyptian'.
He was said to be 42 years old as of November 2015, making his birth year 1972 or 1973. He is reported to have been a clothing importer who studied atal-Azhar University, a topSunni institution inCairo.[4]
In October 2014, he was believed to have traveled toSyria with about 20 followers when security forces clamped down on militants after formerEgyptian PresidentMohamed Morsi was deposed in the2013 Egyptian coup d'état.[5]
Abu Osama was a member ofAnsar Bait al-Maqdis, the previous name of the Islamic State's Sinai branch.
For much of his time in the group he served as head media spokesman.
In May 2015 a recording surfaced where Abu Osama called for attacks against Egyptian judges, saying: "It is wrong for the tyrants [judges] to jail our brothers. Poison their food... surveil them at home and in the street... destroy their homes with explosives if you can."[1]
In November 2015, he became a person of interest in the downing ofMetrojet Flight 9268.[6] He claimed responsibility, saying "We are the ones who downed it [Metrojet Flight 9268] by the grace of Allah, and we are not compelled to announce the method that brought it down."[4]
He became leader of Wilayah Sinai in August 2016.[7] An Islamic State - Sinai Province video titled "The Path of Rationality From Darkness to Light" announced that he was killed in June 2018 in anairstrike on an Islamic State location.[8]