Last Friday, 4 March, the United States carried out a targeted raid near Shaddadi, in Syria, to eliminate Tarkhan Tayumurazovich Batirashvili, also known as Abu Umar al-Shishani e Omar the Chechen, an elderly figure of high profile of the Islamic State. This is what the Pentagon officially communicates.
Batirashvili had been sent to Shaddadi to support the caliphate fighters after a series of strategic defeats settled by local forces coordinated by the United States. Abu Umar al-Shishani was supposed to restore the links between Syria and Iraq with a series of targeted offensives.
The Department of Defense is still evaluating the results of the operation. "The elimination of Batirashvili battles from the camp will have a negative impact on the recruitment capacity of the Islamic State and in coordinating the defense of the Raqqa and Mosul strongholds.".
The US Treasury Department had designated Batirashvili as the "Global Terrorist" and authorized with target order 13224 leader targeting operations.
Abu Omar al-Shisani was one of the most wanted terrorists in the world. Born January 11th of 1986 in Birkiani, he was trained by the Georgian Land Forces where he reached the rank of sergeant. A highly decorated veteran of the Russian-Georgian war in the 2008, he distinguished himself in reconnaissance in hostile territory. Resigned in the 2010 because he was no longer fit for military service, he was deeply shaken by the death of his mother due to cancer. Arrested a few months later for illegal possession of firearms, he consecrated his desire for Jihad in prison. Upon reaching Syria, he became commander of the Muhajirīn Brigade in the 2012, also coordinating some operations of the Al-Nuṣra Front against some Assad missile bases. The consecration to the caliph occurred at the end of the 2013.
Abu Omar al-Shisani was considered one of the best commanders of the Islamic State, known for his red beard and for summary executions ordered in northern Syria.
