Abu Rida al Turkistani in a 2014 video released by the Turkistan Islamic Party
In a tweet from the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), the al Qaeda-linked group confirms its military commander in Syria, Abu Rida al Turkistani, was killed recently at Jisr al Shughur. Not much is known about the commander, but he might have been a native Syrian as he has also been identified as "Abu Rida al Turkistani (Ansari)."
The commander has been featured in several videos since 2014. In one video from 2014, Abu Rida was featured quite frequently speaking to the camera, as well as featured among several TIP fighters. He was also identified as a military leader in that video.However, he most recently featured in the TIP's video showing the "conquest" of Jisr al Shughur, a strategic city in the northwestern province of Idlib.
The commander has been featured in several videos since 2014. In one video from 2014, Abu Rida was featured quite frequently speaking to the camera, as well as featured among several TIP fighters. He was also identified as a military leader in that video.However, he most recently featured in the TIP's video showing the "conquest" of Jisr al Shughur, a strategic city in the northwestern province of Idlib.
I covered the TIP's role in that fight over at The Long War Journal. It's role in the fight was actually quite large, as evident by the video (which you can watch at LWJ.) In a tweet when the bulk of the fighting was still ongoing, the TIP confirmed that it had lost 20 fighters. Additionally, several jihadists on Twitter have said that the TIP personally captured two checkpoints in the city. The TIP's significance in the fight has been talked about in jihadist circles on Twitter quite frequently.
However, Abu Rida was featured in this video. He was shown raising the TIP's flag in the center of Jisr al Shughur, while another scene shows him highlighting the group's spoils gained in the war. It is therefore likely he was killed during the fighting at the National Hospital in Jisr al Shughur. The hospital was recently captured by the Al Nusrah Front, al Qaeda's official branch in Syria, and it is likely the TIP assisted them in that fight.
Abu Rida joins the other TIP fighters killed in Syria that have been promoted by the group. Most, if not all, have been killed fighting alongside the Al Nusrah Front. At least two of them have detonated in suicide operations in conjunction with the al Qaeda branch. The TIP also fights alongside al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan and has had leaders in leadership positions within al Qaeda.
Other photos of Abu Rida al Turkistani:
Abu Rida at Jisr al Shughur:
Photos released by the TIP:
Abu Rida's body:
UPDATE
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has confirmed that Abu Rida was killed fighting at the National Hospital in Jisr and was killed on May 22.
- Caleb