Muhannad

Infobox_Person
name =

Muhannad
(Arabic: مهند)

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4^th Amir of the
Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya

predecessor = Abu Hafs al-Urduni

Muhannad (مهند), also known as Abu Anas (ابو أنس), Turkish transliteration Ebu Enes, is a Mujahid Amir (commander) fighting in Chechnya. After the death of Abu Hafs al-Urduni on November 26, 2006, he assumed leadership of the Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya, [ [http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2006/12/12/6803.shtml KavkazCenter; Commander Muhannad Assumes the Leadership of Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya] ] the battalion of Mujahideen created by Khattab.

Muhannad is reported to be from the Arabian/Persian Gulf region and aged in his thirties. [ [http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications234006&Category=publications&Subcategory=0 SITE Institute; The Commander Muhannad Assumes the Leadership of the Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya Following the Death of Abu Hafs al-Urduni] ] The Russian Interior Ministry reported his full name as Khaled Yusef Muhammad al-Emitat [ [http://www.interfax-news.com/3/363961/news.aspx Successor of militant Abu Khavs killed in North Caucasus - InteriorMinistry] ] which might indicate that he's from the United Arab Emirates, but it's unsure if this is true.

Militant activity

According to the London based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat, during Second Chechen War Muhannad followed the first commander of the Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya, Ibn Al-Khattab, who was killed in April 2002. [ [http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2006/12/12/6803.shtml Kavkaz Center: Commander Muhannad Assumes the Leadership of Arab Mujahideen in Chechnya] ]

On June 7, 2007, KavkazCenter reported that Muhannad is the current Deputy Military Commander of the Chechen separatist forces. [http://www.kavkazcenter.com/eng/content/2007/06/07/8406.shtml KavkazCenter; New clashes in Chechnya] ] On July 19, 2007, Muhannad was confirmed to be first deputy commander to Magomet 'Magas' Yevloyev of the Chechen separtist forces. [http://jamestown.org/chechnya_weekly/article.php?articleid=2373596 The Jamestown Foundation's Chechnya Weekly: Magas: Shamil Basaev’s Ingush Successor] ]

In February 2008, he was reportedly killed by officers of the Russian Interior Ministry during a search operation near the village of Arshty in Ingushetia. Interfax refuted Muhannad's death the same day, saying it was a different militant [ [http://www.kavkazcenter.com/russ/content/2008/02/12/56259.shtml ВИЛАЙЯТ Г1АЛГ1АЙЧЕ. Близ Аршты погиб моджахед] ] Dokka Umarov later appeared on video with Muhannad to refute statements of his death, calling them lies and propaganda. [ [http://caucasus.wordpress.com/2008/03/02/amir-abu-uthman-refuting-lies-of-kuffar-about-muhannad/ Amir Abu Uthman: Refuting Lies of Kuffar About Muhannad] ]

On June 30, 2008 Commander Aslanbek and Deputy Commander Muhanned announced in a joint statement saying that operations conducted in Benoi, Dargo, Urus-Martan, Dolakovo, Shatoi, Vedeno, the Chechen border and Nazran (Ingushetia) are part of the rebels spring/summer rebel campaign against the Russian military and their collaborators. Both Commanders promised that the combat operations by Caucasus Armed Forces will be on the increase, as well as more operations conducted deeper into the territories controlled by the Russians. Muhannad along with Commander Aslanbek also launched a initiative to fortify their rebel camps, boost morale, organize regular meetings, and stock up on weapons to fight the Russians with.

ee also

* Abu al-Walid
* Abu Omar al-Saif
* Abu Zaid
* Mujahideen in Chechnya

References

External links

* [http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications239606&Category=publications&Subcategory=0 SITE Institute; A Message from the Commander Muhannad in Chechnya to the Muslims Performing Hajj and to All Muslims in General]
* [http://www.watchdog.cz/index.php?show=000000-000004-000001-000203&lang=1 Prague Watchdog; The radicalisation of the Chechen separatist movement: Myth or reality?]