Sari Shihab

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Sari Muhammad Hasan Shihab, known as Abu Khallad al-Muhandis, was a Jordanian national born in 1973 who was a member of the different groups that were founded by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Shihab was also known as Abu Safar and Suhayb. [1] Shihab was one of five al-Qaeda leaders who were released by Iran in March 2015 in exchange for a kidnapped Iranian diplomat in Yemen. The other four were Saif al-Adel, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah, Abu Khayr al-Masri and Khalid al-Aruri. [2]

According to one report, Sari Shihab was "involved in WMD programs and plots." [3] Sky News described Shihab and Al-Aruri as "The Iranians have also released two lesser known, though no less dangerous, operatives, both of Jordanian descent." [4]

Shihab was killed in an explosion in Idlib, Syria on August 22, 2019. [5]

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References

  1. Jean Charles Brisard and Damien Martinez, Zarqawi: The New Face of Al Qaeda (Cambridge 2005) p 136
  2. "Iran Released Top Members of Al Qaeda in a Trade". New York Times. 17 September 2015.
  3. "Al Qa'ida's External Operations Unit is back". 19 September 2015. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  4. "Terror Fears As Iran Frees Al Qaeda Members". Sky News. 14 September 2015.
  5. "Al Qaeda veteran reportedly killed in Idlib | FDD's Long War Journal". 22 August 2019.