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| ISIS suicide bombers Fatih al Denmarki and Abdul Aziz al Uzbeki. |
A Danish citizen and an Uzbek are among the 30 suicide bombers who were recognized by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Sham just two days ago. At least 24 of the 30 suicide bombers have last names that indicate they are from outside Iraq.
The ISIS' "North Baghdad division" publicized the 30 suicide bombers by posting a photograph and a brief description of their attacks on its Twitter feed. The suicide bombers executed their attacks between Sept. 11, 2013 and March 6, 2014, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which obtained the information.
The 30 suicide bombers were involved in massed assaults as well as individual attacks against the "North Baghdad Awakening," police and army headquarters, and a prison. The attacks took place in Baghdad (including in Sadr City), Mashahada, Taji, and Tarmiyah. Among the attacks described is the Jan. 30, 2014 suicide assault on the Ministry of Transportation.
"North Baghdad" is one of several theaters where the ISIS routinely launches suicide attacks and assaults, as well as IED, small arms, and mortar and rocket attacks on a regular basis. The ISIS is also active in Anbar province, where Fallujah and other towns have been under ISIS control since the beginning of the year; and in Diyala, Salahuddin, Tikrit, and Ninewa provinces.
Of the 30 suicide bombers who were identified, the noms de guerre of 24 of them indicate that they were from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Seven suicide bombers have the last name "al Maghribi," which denotes origins in Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, or Tunisia. Seven more are from Tunisia (al Tunisi); three are from Egypt (al Masri); three are from Syria (al Suri and al Shami); one is from Uzbekistan (al Uzbeki); one is from Afghanistan or Pakistan (al Khurasani); and one from Denmark (al Denmarki). Additionally, one of the suicide bombers used the last name "al Muhajir," which means "the emigrant."
The Danish suicide bomber was identified as "Brother Fatih al Denmarki," according to SITE. He and two other suicide bombers, identified as Abu Muhammad al Maghribi and Abu Ayyub al Jazrawi, were involved in a suicide assault in November 2013 that targeted "the headquarters of the 22nd Brigade of the intelligence of the Safavid [Iranian] army" in the city of Taji, which is just north of Baghdad. The three suicide bombers "stormed the headquarters" and killed and wounded "more than 50 apostates," the ISIS claimed.
The Uzbek suicide bomber was identified as "Brother Abdul Aziz al Uzbeki." In September 2013, the Uzbek and Abu Dujana al Tunisi "stormed" a "large gathering of elements of the al Dajjal Army [Mahdi Army] in Sadr City in Baghdad." The ISIS claimed that "395 apostates" were killed or wounded in the attack.
Foreign fighters have flocked to fight alongside the ISIS in both Iraq and Syria. A Chechen commander known as Omar al Shishani is a senior commander in the ISIS in Syria. And the deputy emir of Ansar al Sharia Tunisia recently traveled to Syria to join the ISIS.
Despite the ISIS' falling out with al Qaeda over the former's attempt to dominate jihadists in Syria, the group still seeks to attack the United States.
"So as to let you know, you the protector of the cross, that the war of agency will not enrich you in Syria as it did not enrich you in Iraq, and very soon you will be in the direct confrontation - you will be forced to do so, Allah permitting," ISIS emir Abu Bakr al Baghdadi said in a statement released on Jan. 19. "The sons of the Islam have settled their selves for this day."