Abu Azrael
Ayoub Falih Hasan Al-Raie (Arabic: أيوب فالح حسن لراعي), born 1978, known by his nom de guerre Abu Azrael, also known as the Angel of Death, is an Iraqi Commander in the popular crowd of the Kataib al-Imam Ali, an Iraqi Shi'a militia group of the Popular Mobilization Forces that is fighting ISIS in Iraq. He has become a public icon of resisting ISIS in Iraq among Shia Iraqis with a large following on social media. His motto and catchphrase is "Ella Tahin", literally meaning "Until/into dust" interpreted to mean "Grind you to dust."
Abu Azrael | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Ayoub Falih Hasan |
| Birth name | Ayoub Falih Hasan Al-Raie |
| Nickname(s) | Abu Azrael Angel of Death[1] Rambo |
| Born | April 26, 1978 Sadr City, Iraq |
| Allegiance | Iraq |
| Service/ | Popular Mobilization Forces |
| Rank | Iraqi military commander |
| Unit | Kataib al-Imam Ali |
| Battles/wars | War in Iraq (2013–2017) |
Abu Azrael was a former member in Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army which fought against the U.S./Coalition forces during the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.[3]
Personal life
Abu Azrael is described in various sources as a Shia Muslim who is a 40-year-old former university lecturer and a one-time Taekwondo champion.[4] According to an Iranian source,[5] Reports from March 2015 claimed that Azrael is a father of five, and lives an "ordinary life" when not on the battlefield.[6]
Following incidents where he was filmed desecrating the corpses of ISIS fighters,[7] Azrael stated that he had been told by a senior imam in Najaf that he should pray for penance and "never do such a thing again".[8]
In October 2019, he was severely beaten unconscious by protesting Iraqis at Tahrir Square, Baghdad.[9]
In 2020, he was infected with COVID-19 and suffered lung damage.[10]
Public image
Abu Azrael fought against ISIS, although he has also fought against other militant groups. He has attracted attention in the Middle East, but by the spring of 2015, he had also made front-page appearances on international news websites in England, France and the United States.[11]
He has received a medal of honor from the Representative of the Supreme Religious Authority Sayyid Ahmad al-Safi.[12]
In 2016, he was spotted on the battlefield in the Battle of Mosul.[13]
See also
References
- ^ "Islamic State brutally executes 4 men in response to slaying by 'Angel of Death' - The Long War Journal". Retrieved 8 June 2016.
- ^ Amir Toumaj (4 November 2016). "Abu Azrael spotted during PMF's Mosul operation". The Long War Journal. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
- ^ Varma, Aditya (2015-12-02). "Have You Heard Of Abu Azrael, The Iraqi Rambo Who Is ISIS's Worst Nightmare?". ScoopWhoop. Retrieved 2019-03-19.
- ^ Jaber, Hala (15 March 2015). . The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on March 17, 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
- ^ ابنا (2016-08-18). ""ابوعزرائیل" به قم و زیارت حضرت معصومه(س) رفت + عکس". fa.abna24.com (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "'The Archangel of Death' fighting Islamic State". BBC News. March 17, 2015.
- ^ ""Iraq's Rambo" out of favour with his own militia after brutally violent videos". Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- ^ "NoCookies | The Australian".
- ^ "Mosul joins the protests in Iraq but in a different way - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". al Monitor. from the original on 2021-08-22. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ "Corona virus damages the lung of "Abu Azrael"". Saudi 24 News. 2020-07-12. from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
- ^ "The Angel of Death is Coming For You, ISIL". Al Jazeera America. March 18, 2015.
- ^ ابنا, اختصاصی (2015-05-24). "تقدیر از "ابوعزرائیل" و رزمنده ۸۰ ساله در حرم حضرت عباس(ع) + تصاویر". fa.abna24.com (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-08-22.
- ^ ابنا (2016-11-01). "ابوعزرائیل در نبرد آزادسازی موصل آفتابی شد + عکس". fa.abna24.com (in Persian). Retrieved 2021-08-22.