From the Biographies of the Distinguished Martyrs: (7) Abu Tariq al-Yemeni
The seventh “distinguished martyr” is Abu Tariq al-Yemeni, an early member of the Rawah Camp. Abu Ismail al-Muhajir reports that Abu Tariq entered Iraq alongside Abu Muhammad al-Lubnani, suggesting the two had known each other. He does not state whether Abu Tariq had known Zarqawi, or even mention the latter at all in this biography, suggesting his role was not yet central. This would bolster the view that Zarqawi (based in Baghdad) and Lubnani (based in Rawah) had separate networks in Iraq that later merged in 2003.1 Abu Tariq was a senior member in Lubnani’s circle and soon became an emir. Muhajir tells us that the two personally hunted down the spy that revealed the location of the Rawah Camp to the Coalition, leading to its bombing. Curiously, he mentions that Abu Tariq “went to another camp to undergo an important training course, along with a group of mujahidin, where he was appointed as an emir over them.” In other words, the Rawah Camp was not the only jihadist training camp in the earliest months of the Iraqi insurgency. We are not told whether this camp was formed by Iraqis or foreigners, but it was clearly welcoming to foreigners. We also learn that Abu Tariq unsuccessfully attempted to leave Iraq to fight in Afghanistan. After a six-month stint in prison, Abu Tariq was released and deployed to Baqubah, Diyala, where he led Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad’s fighters in the city. This was likely in the first half of 2004, as JTJ was first announced in April 2004. From the various biographies, we can safely conclude that JTJ had established a serious presence in all major parts of Sunni Iraq by early 2004.
In the name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful
Abu Tariq al-Yemeni:
The calm lion, strong-willed, and firm in nature. He does not tolerate joking and frivolity. He has a pure belief that he does not compromise on. Bold for the sake of God, with an awe-inspiring presence, no one dares challenge him. He is gentle without being weak, strong without being harsh, and in general, he is tender without fragility, powerful without rudeness.
The martyr, may God have mercy on him, arrived early at the battlefield of glory in the Land of the Two Rivers. He entered alongside the brave fighter Abu Muhammad al-Lubnani, may God accept him among the martyrs, and joined his brothers at the famous Rawah Camp. There, he took his position with his companions as they prepared and trained, gathering resources to fight those who opposed God and His Messenger.
However, the Jews planted a spy among them, a Yemeni-born Jew who claimed to be a Salafi, with a meticulously groomed beard and outwardly Salafi behavior and speech. He claimed to have memorized fifteen parts of the Quran. This pig did not leave the camp until he had undermined it completely, and it was subjected to a savage bombing. More than eighty Arab mujahidin were killed, among them the son of the brave fighter Abu Muhammad al-Lubnani.
Neither Abu Tariq nor his companion, Abu Muhammad, found peace or rest. They dug into the ground to find this pig and prayed to God to grant them victory over him, until they were able to seize him. What do you think they did to him?
Before this criminal died, he began to babble in Hebrew. When he regained consciousness, he denied knowing Hebrew, so he was beaten. Yet, he insisted, and then the same thing happened again. He babbled in Hebrew once more and denied it again. Finally, justice was served, and he got what he deserved, praise be to God.2
At this point, I had not yet met the brave martyr–whom we consider to be such, but God is his Reckoner. Then I had the honor of meeting him [Abu Tariq]. He stayed in my home for a considerable time. He was a wonderful companion and brother. Later, he went to another camp to undergo an important training course, along with a group of mujahidin, where he was appointed as an emir over them.
They said to me later, “He was a wonderful brother, the emir.” After finishing his mission, he returned to me for another period.
Yet the martyr’s person was in Iraq, while his heart was in Afghanistan. He was constantly insisting on going there, along with a group of brothers.
So the arrangements were made, resources were prepared, and the arduous journey began. On the Kurdish-Iranian border, during the night crossing, there was a stage where running was necessary. The group sprinted quickly, except for a Kuwaiti brother who was fat. Our companion returned to help him, hoping to encourage him to run, but by God’s will, both were captured by the filthy Peshmerga forces. They severely beat the brothers, then placed them in a car and sent them to prison.
On the way, the hero Abu Tariq signaled to the other brave fighter [the Kuwaiti]. True, he was fat, but he was strong and bold in character. They both pounced on the two guards and the driver, killing one and capturing the other. The rifle was tied next to the driver, but neither could unfasten it.
As for Abu Tariq, may God have mercy on him, he picked up a large stone and smashed the head of the filthy guard, turning it into mush, praise be to God. He did the same with the other guard.
The brothers took the car, but because they didn’t know the way, they fell into an ambush at another Peshmerga checkpoint. The Peshmerga ordered them to stop, and two fast Land Cruisers, loaded with soldiers, caught up with them. A firefight broke out between the brothers and the Peshmerga. During the retreat, the brothers had managed to unfasten the AK-47 from its restraints, but it only had one magazine of ammunition. Abu Tariq was careful with every shot, targeting the two vehicles, but the ammunition ran out, and the car stopped. The criminals surrounded them, and they were captured once again. You can imagine, without further details, what the filthy ones did to the pure ones. May God help them.
After the Peshmerga finished their interrogation, they handed the brothers over to the Americans. There, the two mujahidin denied their confessions, and Abu Tariq insisted on his identity as Iraqi, which was believed by God’s grace. He was imprisoned for about six months, then released! One day, I was surprised to see him walk into my house. I could hardly believe my eyes. How had this happened? What had occurred? Was this really happening?
The important thing is that it was real. The mujahid rejoined his brothers once again, and the ranks of Jama’at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad were reinforced in the city of Baqubah,3 with Abu Tariq leading the charge. On the day when the world saw the mujahidin storm the streets of Baqubah and seize it, the martyr displayed exceptional bravery, courage, and defiance. He sought death wherever he could find it, but it wasn’t destined for him. He returned with his brothers to their base, and on the way, the plane bombed a position they had secured, as it had fired a mortar from there. The shell fell near Abu Tariq, and the knight dismounted his steed, may God have mercy on him, his heart saying: “The eyes of cowards will never sleep…”
But he left us another knight, no less fierce against the enemy than he was. This was the heroic mujahid and valiant knight, the one whose name is spoken of on the streets and roads of the Nazzal and Al-Askari districts in Fallujah: his brother, the mujahid Abu Mardiya.
I ask God to heal him, for the hero was moderately injured in a brilliant operation against two CIA vehicles on the airport road. He is now recovering, and his heart says: “When will I tread the earth with my feet, until I drink the blood of the Jews?” May God reward him and us with goodness in Abu Tariq. Amen.
Written by:
Abu Ismail al-Muhajir
I believe Daniele Raineri was the first to posit this theory.
In Memoirs of a Mujahid, Abu Hafs al-Iraqi reports that Abu Muhammad al-Lubnani personally beheaded this spy.
Capital of Diyala Governorate