Abu Yahia al-Hamawi | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mohannad al-Masri |
| Born | 1981 (age 42–43)
[1] Qalaat al-Madiq, Hama, Syria |
| Allegiance | Ahrar al-Sham |
| Rank | Leader |
| Battles/wars | Syrian Civil War |
Mohannad al-Masri (born 1981), [2] [3] [4] known by the alias Abu Yahia al-Hamawi, [2] [3] [4] (sometimes transliterated Abu Yahya al-Hamawi [5] [6] [7] [8] or Abu Yehya al-Hamawi [9]) was the third leader of the Salafist Ahrar al-Sham during the Syrian Civil War. [10] He served from 12 September 2015 [9] [11] until his term ended in November 2016.
Biography
Al-Hamawi came from Qalaat al-Madiq, Hama, Syria. He trained as a civil engineer and studied at Tishreen University in Latakia. [2] [3] [4] [6] He was with Hadi Al Abdullah who was a journalist during the civil war. He was an activist and an inmate of the " Islamist wing" of the Syrian government’s main political prison in Sednaya from 2007 to 2011. An article in the Toronto Star described him as a " political prisoner". [7] He was released in 2011, when the Syrian uprising began. [2] [3] [4] [1]
He later became leader of the Osama bin Zeid Company, a militia based around his hometown of Qalaat al-Madiq, and then rose through the ranks to become leader of Ahrar al-Sham in September 2015. [10] [1] According to Al-Monitor, the change is leadership is said to have made Ahrar Al-Sham "more palatable to the West" since al-Hamawi "is seen as someone who will fit the 'moderate Salafist' image Ahrar al-Sham wants to have". [8] According to The Daily Beast, al-Hamawi claimed that "Ahrar al-Sham was mainstream and aligned with Western interests." [12] In December 2015, al-Hamawi sent Labib al-Nahhas to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in order to participate in the Saudi-led rebel conference that produced the High Negotiations Committee (HNC). [12] Al-Hamawi has also falsely claimed that Al-Nusra had withdrawn from the Army of Conquest. [12]
His term as leader could have been extended, [13] but the Shura Council of Ahrar al-Sham appointed Ali al-Omar as leader in November 2016. [14]
References
- ^ a b c "Mmedia.me - mmedia Resources and Information". Archived from the original on 2017-12-04. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
- ^ a b c d Pugliese, David (13 September 2015). "War on the Islamic State – Russian forces expanding airport in Syria in preparation for new military base". Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d El Deeb, Sarah (14 September 2015). "Syria group: Russia expanding major Syrian airport". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Russia expanding major Syrian airport, monitor reports". The Japan Times. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ Mroue, Bassem (8 October 2015). "Syrian militant group gaining influence after rebranding as moderate option". CTV News. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Karouny, Mariam (22 September 2015). "Resilient insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham to play bigger role in Syria". Reuters. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Ward, Olivia (5 July 2016). "Syrian rebels carry out reign of terror in north: Amnesty". Toronto Star. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Tastekin, Fehim (30 September 2015). "Davutoglu proposes refugee 'container city'". Al-Monitor. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Heller, Sam (30 September 2015). "Ahrar Al-Sham's Revisionist Jihadism". War on the Rocks. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b Lund, Aron (12 September 2015). "Abu Yahia al-Hamawi, Ahrar al-Sham's New Leader". Syria Comment. Archived from the original on 5 October 2018. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
- ^ Aron Lund on Twitter
- ^ a b c Decina, Alexander (1 March 2016). "In the Syrian Ceasefire Shell Game, the Good Guys May Be Bad Guys". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ "Sources to Qasioun: Ahrar Alsham movement looking for new leader". Qasioun News. 10 November 2016. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
- ^ El Deeb, Sarah (30 November 2016). "The Latest: Turkey says 2 soldiers missing in Syria". AP. Retrieved 30 November 2016.
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