Fawzi Mutlaq al-Rawi | |
|---|---|
| فوزي مطلق الراوي | |
| Alleged Leader of theIraqi Regional Command of theArab Socialist Ba'ath Party | |
| In office 2003–2021 | |
| National Secretary | Abdullah al-Ahmar |
| Preceded by | ? |
| Succeeded by | Mouteb Shenan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1940 (1940) |
| Died | 28 June 2021(2021-06-28) (aged 80–81) Damascus, Syria |
| Citizenship | Iraqi |
| Party | Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party |
| Nickname(s) | Fawzi Isma'il al-Husayni al-Rawi Abu Akram Abu Firas |
Fawzi Mutlaq al-Rawi (Arabic:فوزي مطلق الراوي, 1940 – 28 June 2021), also known by his aliases asAbu Akram orAbu Firas, was an Iraqi politician who was allegedly, according to the US, the leader of the Syrian-led Ba'athist movement inIraq.[1]
Fawzi Mutlaq al-Rawi was born in 1940 inFalluja in the governorate ofDulaim,Iraq.[1]
According to the US Treasury, Rawi was appointed to his position as Chairman of the Iraqi branch of the Syrian led Ba'ath movement by Syrian PresidentBashar al-Assad in 2003. In 2006 Rawi was number 13 of the Iraqi government's 41 most wanted, accused of funding and leading terrorist operations in Anbar province.[2]
In late 2007 the US Treasury designated Rawi on the accusation of providing financial and material support to al-Qaeda in Iraq. The US Treasury Department also accused Rawi of being supported by the Syrian government and having close ties to Syrian intelligence agencies. Rawi was accused of having twice met with a former commander of the Ba'athist militant groupJaysh Muhammad in 2004, and having told the commander that the group would receive material support from the Syrian government. According to the US Treasury Rawi in 2005 helped transfer $300,000 to members of al-Qaeda in Iraq, alongside vehicle borne IED's, rifles, and suicide bombers. Rawi also allegedly discussed operational issues with representatives of the al-Qaeda leadership in Iraq, such as attacks against the US Embassy and within theGreen Zone.[3][better source needed] However, these allegations were never confirmed and Rawi hasn't been heard from since theIraq War.
In a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Nour al-Maliki in January 2009,David Petraeus, Commander of United States Central Command, called Rawi one of the more dangerous members of the insurgency linked with the former Ba'athist government, although also downplayed the risk posed by such groups when compared to that posed by al-Qaeda in Iraq.[citation needed]
Despite claims by the US Treasury that Rawi was the leader of the Syrian led Ba'athist movement inIraq, the UN as well as Al-Sabah reported thatMohammed Younis al-Ahmed was elected to lead the party in Syria.[4][5] Rawi is never mentioned in either report.
According to the U.S. as of 2010, Rawi was allegedly believed to be living in a Syrian government-owned apartment in theMezzeh neighborhood of Damascus, and working out of the Syrian Ba'ath Party Command Building in the al-Halbuni District of the city.[1][better source needed]
Rawi died in Damascus on 28 June 2021.[6][citation needed]