The Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), an al Qaeda-affiliated group that operates in Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and Syria, has released several pictures of its fighters killed in Syria on social media. These fighters were undoubtedly killed fighting alongside the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's official branch in Syria.
The TIP in Syria fights alongside the aforementioned Al Nusrah and its allies in northern Syria. As I have previously noted, at least two fighters have conducted "martyrdom operations", or suicide bombings, in support of Al Nusrah. Moreover, it is likely the TIP fighters in Syria maintain bayah (allegiance) to Mullah Omar of the Taliban as its parent organization does.
TIP is one of the few groups in Syria that has bayah to Mullah Omar. The other group, the Uzbek Imam Bukhari Jamaat, swore bayah to Mullah Omar and the Taliban back in early Nov. This group, which is based in Aleppo and fights alongside Al Nusrah and its allies, likely also has connections to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). IMU fights alongside the Taliban and al Qaeda and swears allegiance to Mullah Omar. The IMU also recruits for an Uzbek faction within Al Nusrah, as well.
Over the last month or so, the TIP's Twitter page has periodically posted photos of its fighters killed in Syria. The tweets give little more information other than the names, which means the exact location inside Syria cannot be gathered at this time. These fighters were also featured in a video produced by the jihadist group, but it appears to have been removed from both YouTube and Dailymotion. Sadly, more information about these fighters cannot be ascertained at this point in time.
The most recent (shown below) is named Salahadin Turkistani:
The next two fighters were apparently brothers. From right to left, Karin Abbas and Abu Firat al Turkistani:
Next is Zubeyir Turkistani:
Next is Abu Omar, who apparently went by Nasrullah. He appears to be older than most of the fighters shown and a few pictures on Twitter show him with his two daughters in Syria:
Next is one of the previously mentioned suicide bombers, who was identified by the group to be one Dadullah Turkistani. Dadullah detonated with Abu Hurayra al Amriiki back in May:
The second suicide bomber was identified to be Abdulvaris Turkistani. It is unclear when or where he detonated in Syria. He also appears to be the last one the group has showcased so far. This post will be updated when the group highlights more of their fighters killed in Syria:
UPDATE:
The TIP recently showcased two more killed fighters in Syria on social media. The first is Mansour al Turkistani:
The most recent killed fighter highlighted on social media is Salim al Turkistani:
UPDATE 2:
New photos have been released by the group on Twitter showing more fighters that have been killed in Syria. One of these photos give us a look at how long TIP fighters have been involved in Syria with Nusrah, as one was identified by the group as having died in 2012.
Abu Ahmed, who was killed in 2012 while fighting alongside Al Nusrah:
Abdul Selam al Turkistani:
UPDATE 3:
The next fighter, which has yet to be named, was recently killed in the Jisr al Shughur offensive. The TIP said in a tweet to me that the group lost 20 fighters in the offensive. You can read my reporting on its role in the offensive at The Long War Journal and here at The Line of Steel. I expect the group to post a video or more photos of these fighters soon.
Its military commander, Abu Rida al Turkistani was also killed at Jisr al Shughur while fighting at the National Hospital:
UPDATE 4
The next fighters were also killed in the fight for Jisr al Shughur, specifically near the national hospital where Abu Rida (shown above) was also killed. One fighter undertook a suicide operation near the hospital. As such, this makes at least three suicide operations undertaken by the TIP in Syria.
Unfortunately, the names of these fighters are not yet known but will hopefully be found out soon. When their names are known, I will update this page.
The next fighters were also killed in the fight for Jisr al Shughur, specifically near the national hospital where Abu Rida (shown above) was also killed. One fighter undertook a suicide operation near the hospital. As such, this makes at least three suicide operations undertaken by the TIP in Syria.
Unfortunately, the names of these fighters are not yet known but will hopefully be found out soon. When their names are known, I will update this page.
TIP confirmed in a tweet to me that the name of the fighter below was Mohammad Anas:
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