From the Biographies of the Distinguished Martyrs: (11) Abu Khalid al-Suri
The eleventh “distinguished martyr” is a Syrian Palestinian jihadist named. Abu Khalid al-Suri’s1 biography does not reveal much about the early Iraqi jihad or the Syrian jihadist scene. Abu Ismail al-Muhajir informs us that Abu Khalid was in the same group as Abu Khabbab al-Filastini, and that he was in the first suicide bombing against a police station in Iraq. As has become clear, many (if not most) of the suicide bombs in the early phases of the Iraqi insurgency were committed by foreign jihadists, many of whom had extensive jihadist experience.
In the name of God, the most Gracious, the most Merciful
Abu Khalid al-Suri
A calm, well-mannered, dignified, and wise man. When he knew something, he acted upon it. He was a listener and obedient. May God have mercy on Abu Khalid, the Palestinian. Yes, he was Palestinian–from the residents of the Hittin Camp in Damascus, of Palestinian origin. Like others of his generation, he was born in exile and lived with the dream of dignity and liberation. However, Abu Khalid was among the few who were raised on the methodology of the Salaf and the Sunnah of the Messenger of God in creed and practice.
Abu Khalid joined that blessed caravan, the caravan of Abu Khabbab, alongside the courageous knight, the fierce hero, and the experienced fighter, Abu Hassan. Although Abu Hassan was older than Abu Khalid, he was one of his blessings. When Abu Khalid was martyred, I saw Abu Hassan as if he had lost the world and all that was in it. Abu Khalid was his teacher, his mentor, his friend, and the confidant of his secrets and advice. Thus, he shed tears for him and repeatedly threw himself into battle, hoping to join his companion, but the Wisdom of God prevails.
Abu Khalid came and sat in the house of the martyr Abu Umar, offering advice and guidance to his brothers. He then took a brief course in explosives and detonation. Abu Khalid had initially come for administrative work, but he expressed to me his strong desire to carry out a martyrdom operation. This was after he had firmly decided in his heart and mind that striking the enemy was crucial and that the battlefield proved it (the martyrdom operation) to be the most effective way to deafen the enemy's ears. They could neither conceal it nor erase its effects. However, Abu Khalid placed a heavy burden on me, saying, "I am entrusting this matter to you, ensuring that the target inflicts significant damage on the enemy, which cannot be achieved otherwise."
Abu Khalid prepared for the journey and readied himself for travel. He turned to his Lord, and the man's demeanor changed. His face began to glow like a piece of the moon or a glimmer of silver, and his eyes radiated a warm and luminous light. If you had seen him, you would have sworn that he had a special secret with his Lord, a unique act of worship, or that he was preparing for something his Lord had destined for him. How could it be otherwise when the man's companion and confidant was the Book of God? He would converse with his Lord, seeking success and guidance, and hoping for steadfastness at the moment of encounter.
The house was filled with young migrants, and he requested that I find him a place where he could be alone. Time was short, and the burden was heavy. I promised to do so if possible, but after making efforts, I apologized, saying, "My brother, this is our capacity, and your request is valid, but please excuse me." The man excused us and continued preparing for his journey to his Lord. What a journey it was, and what moments those were! We received the order to execute an operation on a significant and criminal tyrant.
The target was a house frequented by a high-ranking CIA general, along with a number of spies. When he arrived, he was heavily guarded. The house was surveilled, and the method of operation was determined. The brothers' plan was to blow up the house with everyone inside–Americans, agents, equipment, and documents. They prepared a car bomb for this purpose. According to reconnaissance, the target came to the house almost daily, stayed for an hour, and then left, depending on his mood, as he had no fixed schedule.
Abu Khalid prepared himself, and with him, his brothers from the surveillance team prepared as well. On the designated day, we went and waited for the target from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., the latest time he was expected to arrive, but he did not come. We went again the next day, and the same thing happened. I decided to halt the operation for the time being, but orders came to continue monitoring and lying in wait for the target, maintaining full readiness. This meant that the martyrdom brother and the surveillance team, along with the car, had to remain in the target area from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Indeed, we went on the third day and waited, but the target did not come. I noticed that Abu Khalid was showing signs of fatigue, and I was deeply pained and amazed by his patience and endurance.
The man was waiting for the moment when the surveillance team would come and say to him, "In the name of God, go forth." He was living with death at every moment, and this was intense. Even we, the surveillance team, were exhausted from waiting, not because of anything else but because we were in a state of maximum readiness, with nerves stretched and full attention. We asked God for reward and recompense. At the end of the third day, I remembered the saying of the Prophet (peace be upon him) in the hadith narrated by Muslim: "Guarding the frontier for a day and a night is better than fasting and praying for a month. If one dies (while performing this duty), his deeds will continue to be recorded, his provision will continue to come, and he will be safe from the torment of the grave."
So, I went to Abu Khalid and said, "O Abu Khalid, rejoice! God has decreed that you receive the reward of guarding the frontier and the reward of martyrdom." I mentioned the hadith to him, and by God, I saw joy radiating from the man's face, as if I had brought him a lost treasure. He was delighted by the hadith, even though he already knew it and had memorized it. But I reminded him of it at a time when he was in dire need of it. This is why God has prescribed advice for the scholar and the learner, as He said: {And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers. [51:55]} A reminder is not the same as teaching.
After a week of surveillance, we learned that the target no longer would come and had changed his location to an unknown place. Praise be to God in all circumstances.
The target was changed, and the first police station to be struck in Iraq was identified. It was a hub of corruption and mischief, located in an area notorious for openly insulting our mother Aisha (may God be pleased with her), not to mention the two Shaykhs, Abu Bakr and Umar (may God be pleased with them).
This was the police station of Sadr City, located in the Jamila neighborhood. Over one hundred and fifty despicable individuals were observed lining up in the station's courtyard at 8 a.m. Thursday was chosen for the execution. One of the brothers came to me and suggested postponing the operation to Saturday, as the number of people on Thursday would be fewer. Abu Khalid was present, and I said to the brother, "We have decided on the matter, and God will provide for us. Moreover, the invasion on Thursday has historical significance." Indeed, we went to the target, and before the car approached, I went to confirm the number of people present. I found that the enemy had doubled in number, as they had gathered that day to collect their salaries.
I had told Abu Khalid, "When you arrive, wait until I come to you and say, 'Enter.'" But it seemed he did not understand me. While I was in front of the apostasy center, one of my brothers gestured to me and ran toward me, saying, "Come, come!" He even drew attention to us.
I went to him and asked, "What's wrong? You've exposed us!" He said, "The brother in front of you is heading to the center. Look!" I saw Abu Khalid heading toward the center with his usual calm, as if he were on an outing with his family. When he saw me in front of the center, he went and made a large loop before returning. I had initially seen him heading toward the door, but when I went further away, I did not hear the explosion. I was overcome with great sorrow and grief, known only to God. The car was driven by the unknown knight and fierce hero mentioned earlier. We feared that the car had not exploded or that the brother had been killed before execution or captured.
I said to the brother, "Go back to the center." He said, "Wait a little." In my anxiety, I said, "Go back, and let what will be, be. We must address the situation. The brother knows several houses that must be evacuated if something goes wrong." While we were on our way to the center, I saw everything around me shaking from a massive explosion that tore through everything around it. That ominous courtyard, with everyone in it, became like a furnace, or the mouth of a volcano.
From our private sources, I later learned that the number of police killed reached one hundred and sixty, not including the wounded. No civilians were harmed, as the brother, may God bless him, detonated his car right in the middle of the courtyard. Despite the guards showering him with bullets, they were like coolness and peace to him. He continued on his path and accomplished his mission. May God have mercy on Abu Khalid, and I ask God to gather us with him in the gardens of Paradise under a Mighty King. I ask God to replace him with something better for his wife and three children. God never neglects the family of a martyr, and this is something I have experienced and confirmed. They are often better off in this world after his death than during his lifetime. What do you think of a lord who sacrificed for his religion?
The martyr had left a message for his family with me and instructed me to write a letter to his wife, reminding her of God and that He would not neglect her. He said, "My wife is virtuous and religious, but a husband has a special place. I fear for her faith because of her love for me." I promised him that, and may God protect our honor and children from all harm and evil.
Written by:
Abu Ismail al-Muhajir
Not to be confused with the more famous Abu Khalid al-Suri who co-led Ahrar al Sham in Syria and died in 2014. This is a different figure