Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari
| Jalal Belaidi | |
|---|---|
Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari in 2012.
|
|
| Born | late 1970s |
| Died | 4 February 2016 Zinjibar, Yemen |
| Nationality | Yemeni |
| Other names | Abu Hamza al-Murqoshi, Jalal Baledi al-Marqashi |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |
 Al-Qaeda
|
| Service/branch |
AQAP (2009–2016) |
| Years of service | 2009–2016 |
| Rank |
Supreme commander(emir) in the Abyan Governorate (2011-2016) Emir of Zinjibar (2011-2016) |
Supreme commander(emir) in the Abyan Governorate (2011-2016) Emir of Zinjibar (2011-2016)
Abu Hamza al-Zinjibari(born, Jalal Belaidi) was a commander of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in Abyan and the rest of southern Yemen. The United States offered a bounty of 5 million US dollars in his head.
Its believed, that Hamza was born during the late 70s, in the Al Wade'a District, Abyan Governorate. Reports indicate that he was a Football player, playing in the position of the Goalkeeper in the local team. Residents from his hometown said, that he worked as a baker in his youth, and that he was a nice and pleasant person. During the wake of Yemeni Revolution, Hamza taken command of AQAP fighters in Abyan, and commanded their forces in Battle of Zinjibar and the Battle of Lawdar. He also commanded his troops in Dofas and served as supreme Emir of AQAP in Abyan province. In August of 2014, he leaded an operation in which he captured and executed by beheading 14 government soldiers.
As of March 2015, the Houthi forces had captured most of Abyan in the wake of Yemeni civil war. The Hadi loyalists formed a coalition included AQAP to recapture Abyan from Houthis. The coalition succeeded its goal, with the AQAP returning in the scene of southern Yemen by the April of the same year. In early December 2015, troops under Hamza's commands captured the Zinjibar and Ja'ar. The AQAP then declared an Emirate there, and begun to govern the taken areas. One month later, Hamza launched an offensive in the east of Abyan, successfully capturing almost all of it. In February 4, a US drone strike killed him alongside with two of his men. His brother then taken command of the AQAP forces in Abyan and succeeded his position as the Emir of Zinjibar. After his death, AQAP opened a camp with his name in his memory.
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