JIHADIST LEADERS #2: Al-Bara al-Shishani

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There are several jihadist groups in Syria, many of which are composed of or host foreign fighters from Russia or Central Asia in their ranks. Many fighters from the mentioned areas chose the Syrian civil war as their new theatre of operations, moving there around 2012 and starting to operate actively between 2014 and 2015 when Russia decided to intervene on the side of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

One of the groups that emerged in Syria during those years is known today as Liwa al-Muhajireen wal Ansar (LMA), “Brigade of Emigrants and Supporters”, integrated militarily into HTS in Liwa Said ibn Zayd. Recently, the group resumed publishing its propaganda under the original name Northern Caucasus

The military emir of LMA is Al-Bara al-Shishani.

Date of birth: n.d.

Place of birth: Chechnya, Northern Caucasus, Russia

Area of operations: Syria

Role: Military Emir of the group.

Group affiliation: Northern Caucasus

Types of organisation: Non-state actor, armed group, jihadist

Ideology/affiliation: Jihadist, Insurgent.