Terrorism experts: Turkey’s state likely to be in Gaziantep, al-Baghdadi appointed his alternative before his death
Ein Issa – North-Press Agency
Adnan Mansour
Two experts on terrorism and Islamist groups said that, the Islamic State (ISIS) is still in a state of popularity and that it has failed to run new states which it has opened, and that Turkey's state may take a place in Gaziantep and Rihaniya.
Post-Baghdadi disagreements
Fadel Abu Ragheef, a security, terrorism and extremist groups expert told North-Press that, the killing of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi requires an alternative of him for Shura Council and the Commissioner Committee, and that ISIS doesn't depend on people, rather, on the spirit of the group.
He added that, up till now it isn't clear if Abdullah Qardash, nicknamed "Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi" is the official successor or not, because he isn't of Hashemite descent, he is (Wali) the governor of Iraq, and there is disagreement about him by al-Jazeera region, the Tunisians and the Arab and foreign Muhajereen (immigrants).
Abu Ragheef noted that al-Baghdadi "resorted to opening new states, but he has failed to run them, including the state of al-Nukhaib in the Euphrates of Iraq on the outskirts of the cities of Karbala and al-Anbar".
He also noted that, "Turkey's state may take a place in Gaziantep and Rihaniya, and Africa's state may also have an active presence in the cities of Sert and Sinai".
He continued that, "ISIS is still in a state of popularity, and it may witness new beginnings in South Africa in the light of these divisions".
Hashemi and Turkmen
In his turn, Marwan Shehadeh, an expert on Islamist groups told North-Press that, Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi (Abdullah Qardash) is of Turkmen origin by place rather than descent.
He explained: "In the sense that he is an Arab, but living in Tellafar, so he was attributing himself to the Turkmen to disguise and mislead people."
"In terms of the ideology of ISIS, the caliph shouldn't be Turkmen or non-Qurashi," he stressed.
Shehadeh continued his speech on the appointment of al-Baghdadi's alternative, saying that, the latter had formed a committee headed by Abdullah Qardash and "this committee is what he called the Commissioner Committee, and then in the event of his death, he recommended that Abu Ibrahim al-Qurashi to be appointed as his successor, as he was fully aware of al-Qurashi's ability.
Regarding that al-Hashemi is of Turkmen origin, Shehadeh also mentioned that he is also of Arab origin, because with its ideology, ISIS doesn't believe to be non-Qurashi, even if he is an Arab, he must be Qurashi and Hashemite in order to complete the conditions for succession.
Beyond al-Baghouz
Regarding the killing of al-Baghdadi in Idlib, specifically in Barisha region, Shehadeh said that, "there is an indication for choosing the safest and unexpected place by the armed groups."
Shehadeh said that, in his penultimate speech after the Battle of al-Baghouz and the loss of ISIS of the site, "al-Baghdadi was there, he went out secretly and paid tens of thousands of dollars to reach other areas."
"I think that there are several connotations regarding his handling of Turkey, the role which Turkey plays against ISIS and besieging it, and that in his reference to Africa, al-Baghdadi was trying to indicate that it will be the place of expansion for ISIS," Shehadeh concluded.
He added that ISIS is likely to focus on those candidate countries which are thought to be weak, corrupt and disintegrated, "because there are some groups and factions which have pledged allegiance to ISIS, although many of these groups are still small and ineffective," he said.