Hizballah Cavalcade: Hizballah’s Multiplying Qusayr Martyrs

NOTE: For prior parts in the Hizballah Cavalcade series you can view an archive of it all here.

By Phillip Smyth
Hizballah Cavalcade: Hizballah’s Multiplying Qusayr Martyrs
 
Click here for a PDF version of this post
Untitled72
Figure 1: Hizballah fighters pose under a road sign pointing to the Syrian city of Qusayr. (Source: Facebook).
On April 30, 2013, Hizballah leader Sayyid Hassan Nasrallah finally made an official announcement signifying Hizballah would become more greatly involved in the Syrian Civil War. Coinciding with his speech were a number of Facebook, pro-Hizballah forum, and other online webpage posts (often with photographs) showing funerals of Hizballah members. These posts had also occurred for well over a month prior to the Nasrallah speech. While Hizballah had been more publicly involved in the conflict in Syria since the summer of 2012 (with the announcement of the first Hizballah members killed in Syria), the speech appeared to be the first truly publicized acknowledgement of what was originally covert Hizballah activity inside Syria.
The weekend spanning May 18-20, 2013 was one filled with martyrdom announcements from Lebanese Hizballah. These announcements coincided with some of the heaviest fighting witnessed since the start of an over-a-month-long, combined pro-Bashar Assad, and Hizballah offensive. This offensive targeted the strategic area of Qusayr. Qusayr serves as a communications link between Syria’s hilly coastal ‘Alawi heartland, Lebanon’s Hizballah-dominated Bekka Valley, and Syria’s capital, Damascus.[1]
Hizballah often obscures the activities of its fighters in Syria. When a Hizballah member is killed, the phrase, “Killed while performing jihad duties” is regularly utilized by the organization as a description for how and why the member died.
As the Qusayr offensive picked-up steam, the numbers of Hizballah dead multiplied greatly. On May 19, 2013, Hizballah officially released a list of 12 Hizballah members killed.[2] On the other hand, Pro-rebel sources claimed anywhere from 20-120 Hizballah members were killed. Hizballah Facebook pages posted different numbers, ranging from 8-15 killed. Additionally, not all of the newly killed Hizballah members had photographs of themselves posted online.
Pro-Hizballah Facebook groups have taken the brunt of responsibility in spreading the news of new Hizballah dead. These pages are often the first to post photographs of Hizballah’s fallen. In turn, pro-Hizballah Facebook pages demonstrate a high level of online organization. Posts announcing newly killed Hizballah members on different pro-Hizballah Facebook pages often occur within minutes of each other. Honing Hizballah’s message further, these pages also share similar photographs. Such activity underlines how information is vetted and then conveyed to the public about those killed. This fact may also demonstrate official Hizballah involvement in announcements of their dead on Facebook.
There are other dead Hizballah members who were killed in Qusayr before the turbulent weekend. However, the posted list includes individuals who were announced by Hizballah as “Martyred” during the fighting from May 18-20, 2013. Currently (May 20, 2013, 12:00PM EST), that number stands at 20 (though, it may be updated with more information). Additionally, only names which could be cross-referenced using a variety of Hizballah sources were incorporated. These sources included pro-Hizballah Facebook pages, Iranian websites, pro-Hizballah forums, official, and semi-official websites.
_
Name: Hassan Faysal Shaker
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: Shaker’s place of death was not listed on Facebook, forum, or official web posts. Shaker was originally listed as killed-in-action in an official Hizballah announcement. The announcement reported a group of 12 Hizballah fighters were killed while fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”. This photo was the only one released and could only be found on pro-Hizballah Facebook pages and on pro-Hizballah forums.
Untitled73
Name: (Al-Haj) Muhammed Salman al-Khalil
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: Khalil’s place of death was not listed on Facebook, forum, or official web posts.
Untitled74Untitled75Untitled76
Name: Muhammed Ali Assad Bakri
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: Bakri’s place of death was not listed on Facebook, forum, or official web posts.
Untitled77
Name: Abbas Muhammed Uthman
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: Uthman’s place of death was not listed on Facebook, forum, or official web posts. He was one of 12 dead, who were named in the official Hizballah notice.
Untitled78
Name: Fadi Muhammed al-Jazar
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: One pro-Hizballah Facebook page reported Jazar was killed fighting in Qusayr. This was one of the first announcements of a Hizballah fighter being killed in that area. The Times of Israel reported Jazar was a Hizballah “Field commander” at Qusayr and from 1991-2004 he was jailed by Israeli authorities after attacking Israeli positions on the Israel-Lebanon border. Jazar was part of a prisoner exchange in 2004.
Untitled79Untitled80
Name: Muhammed Fouad Raba’
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: Raba’’s photo shows him holding a modified M4 carbine and posing in front of the 23mm quad-cannon toting ZSU-23 anti-aircraft gun. Raba’ was part of an official Hizballah announcement that a group of Hizballah fighters were killed fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”. This photo was the only one released and could only be found on pro-Hizballah Facebook pages.
Untitled81
Name: Ibrahim Husayn (A.K.A. Abu Ali or Hatem Husayn)
Death Announced: May 18, 2013
Notes: Husayn’s death was announced as part of an official Hizballah announcement that a group of Hizballah fighters were killed while fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”. On two pro-Hizballah Facebook pages, it was claimed that Husayn’s death occurred while “Defending the Zaynab Shrine”. This is a common narrative used to describe Hizballah members who have been killed in Syria. However, it is possible that Husayn could have been serving in Damascus with Hizballah-staffed front groups like Liwa’a Abu Fadl al-Abbas. Other dead Hizballah members from the weekend of May 18-19 did not repeat the claims of that note with their Facebook martyrdom announcement posts. The official website for the town of Bint Jbeil (which is Hizballah controlled) did not report that Husayn was killed defending the Zaynab Shrine. On May 20, an official Iranian website for the Young Journalists Club, reported Husayn was a Hizballah commander.
Untitled82
Name: Hassan Ali al-Shahrour
Death Announced: May 18, 2013. Funeral held on May 18, 2013.
Notes: According to YaHala.org, a pro-Hizballah website, Shahrour’s funeral was attended by many senior Shia religious leaders. Al-Ahed, one of Hizballah’s official news organs, reported that Hizballah MP Muhammed Ra’ad attended the funeral. This was the likely due to the fact that Ra’ad represents Nabatiyeh in Lebanon’s parliament. Photos were posted on Facebook pages, YaHala.org, and BintJbeil.org.
Untitled83Untitled84Untitled85Untitled86Untitled87
Figure 2: Shahrour’s funeral was led by members of the Mahdi Scouts (Hizballah’s official scouting program). To the right of Shahrour’s posters, Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini is pictured on another poster.
Untitled88Untitled89Untitled90
Name: (al-Haj) Ahmed Wael Ra’ad
Death Announced: May 19, 2013.
Notes: No photo was posted. Ra’ad was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of Hizballah fighters were killed fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: (al-Haj) Radhwan al-‘Attar
Death Announced: May 19, 2013.
Notes: No photo was posted. ‘Attar was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of Hizballah fighters were killed fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: Hassan Hariri
Death Announced: May 19, 2013.
Notes: No photo was posted. Hariri was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of Hizballah fighters were killed fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: Radhi al-Sha’er
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: No photo was posted. Hariri was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of Hizballah fighters were killed while fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: Hussein ‘Amar Yaghi
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: No photo was posted. Yaghi was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of 12 Hizballah fighters were killed while fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: Abu Saman Qasas
Death Announced: May 19, 2013
Notes: No photo was posted. Qasas was part of an official Hizballah announcement stating a group of 12 Hizballah fighters were killed while fulfilling their, “Jihad duties”.
Name: Muhammed

al-Katāi’b Media presents a new video message from Ḥarakat al-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn: “Series: Punish Them Severely to Disperse Those Who Are Behind Them, Part 2: Attack on Apostate Positions – Dhobley – Islamic State of Juba"

New article from Majlis Shūrā al-Mujāhidīn Fī Aknāf Bayt al-Maqdis' Abū Bilāl al-Shāmī: "Reflections on the Ayats of Sūrat al-Ṣaff"

lhkni
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Abū Bilāl al-Shāmī — “Reflections on the Ayats of Sūrat al-Ṣaff”
__________

To inquire about a translation for this article for a fee email: [email protected]

al-Andalus Media presents a new statement from al-Qā’idah in the Islamic Maghrib's Abū Yaḥyā al-Shinqīṭī: "Oh People of Tunisia of al-Qayrawān Be Supporters of Sharī'ah al-Raḥman"

UPDATE 5/21/13 1:55 PM: Here is an English translation of the below Arabic statement:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ 

Alhamdulillah who created for worshiping, and imposed on us to do jihad for the sake of Allah as we ought to strive, I praise and thank Him, and I ask Him grace and more, and I bear witness that Lā ʾIlāha ʾIllā l-Lāh IS Alone with no partner, which is the greatest witness, and I bear witness that Mohammed is his slave and messenger who was aided by His Lord and achieved his desires, may the peace and blessings be upon him, his family and Sahabah, and who followed them in work, intention and will.
Then:
(Arabic poetry)
My greetings to you, how are you, are you eager for the Sharia like me?
Our honorable people in Tunisia of knowledge and Jihad, Tunis of support and shelter, Tunisia of manhood and chivalry. O’ tribes of Al-Hamamah, Al-Maraziq, Al-Farafish, Al-Kadadma, Al-Sabiriya, Awalad Sidi Obaid, Al-Za’aba Talil and others from the people of magnanimity, O’ spending Ulema of Tunisia and its sincere preachers, and its youth who hold hot coals in the time of eeriness.
These are words of advice and support, which we offer to you when Tunisia is passing through a critical juncture and great cunning, either from our enemies the crusader Americans and their treacherous agents from Rafidah and apostates. Despite of that the Muslim is obliged to give advice to his Ummah and religion, since religion is advice as have been stated by our beloved peace and blessings of llah be upon him.
So I say and success is from Allah: In the beginning you have to thank Allah Almighty that he relieved you from the rule of that oppressing arrogant tyrant Ben Ali, who made you suffer from oppression what is only known by Allah. And today you have been liberated from that liberal ruler Alhamdulillah, remember that great blessing, and repeat in the streets, neighborhoods and cities of Tunisia, the Saying of the Almighty: (And We desired to bestow a favor upon those who were deemed weak in the land, and to make them the Imams, and to make them the heirs) 5 Surah Al-Qasas.
Then know may Allah have mercy over you:
Your Ummah is living in a hard stage, holding in its folds glad tidings and grief.
Wherever the Muslim turns his eyes, he sees what makes the heart dissolve, and erupts the tears. All that is because of the absence of the Sharia of Allah Almighty, and the collaboration of the traitors from our people who betrayed Allah and His messenger, whom their situation with their oppressed people is similar to the saying of the poet:
(Arabic poetry)
Brothers whom we took as shields, indeed they were so but for the enemies
I thought they were poignant arrows, indeed they were so but in our hearts
They said we did our best, I said yes but in corrupting me
The struggle between the people of good and the people of evil, between the preachers of the Sharia of Allah and His party, and the preachers of the methodology of Satan and his followers, is a constant tradition that cannot be replaced or changed, that is why Allah said in Surah Al-Anaam:
(Thus have We appointed unto every prophet an adversary – devils of humankind and jinn who inspire in one another plausible discourse through guile. If thy Lord willed, they would not do so; so leave them alone with their devising) 112
The Al-Allamah Ben Achour rahimahullah said in Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir: “That is to alleviate the messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him from what grieved him from the conditions of his disbelieving people and their insistence to reject his Dawah, so Allah informed him: that those are his enemies, and the enmity of those similar to them to those similar to him is from the traditions of Allah Almighty in testing all the prophets, so every one of them had enemies, so the enmity of those people to the prophet peace be upon him isn’t a new thing. In other words: aren’t you a prophet and we have  made for every prophet an enemy”. End of the quotation. Thus the people of falsehood Allah have made them for the enmity of the messengers and their followers, and filled their hearts with that even reviewed their thoughts they couldn’t change their stances because their hearts are full with the enmity of Allah and his message. And Allah made their ears deaf from hearing the truth, and made their eyesight go blind from seeing it? That is why they were the worst creatures to Allah, as Allah Almighty have said: (Surely the vilest of animals, in Allah’s sight, are the deaf, the dumb, who do not understand) 22 Surah Al-Anfal.
Allah turned them away from the right path, and in this life He only showed them the way of error, and that is why Allah Almighty said: (I will turn away from My communications those who are unjustly proud in the earth) 146 Surah Al-Araf, and it is a tradition in this universe, and that this variance between the Awliya of Rahman and the Awliya of Satan continues, so there has to be a trace for those elite who were selected by Allah Almighty, to believe Mohammed may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and support him, and follow his trail and footsteps, and follow them in the methodology that they pursued.
Also there should on the face of this earth another people who choose to take the path of the enemies of Allah and His messenger and follow their trail and footsteps, and in every generation there has to be a generation of those who are similar to Abu Jahal Amr ibn Hisham and Utba ibn Rabiya and Shayba ibn Rabiya and Zuma ibn Al-Aswad, and their like will remain in every time and place. And Allah have made this religion a lamp on this earth, and it will reach where day and night have reached, and it will not leave a house of Madar (mud or clay) or a house of Wabar (fur of camels and goats, i.e. tents) without entering it.
And so there will remain enemies who will seek to repel it, and distort its people, and calling and accusing them with improper words and heinous titles, since every battle of this world is similar to the well-known battles of the messenger of Allah peace and blessings of Allah be upon him like the battle of Badr, Uhud, Khaybar, Hunayn and the battle of Al-Ahzab (the coalition) and other battles, even if the battles vary by the inequality of men. So brothers do not be fed up by the presence of the enmities and obstacles that you will find on your way, since it is a constant universal tradition.
And we won’t retrieve our dignity and status among the nations except with two important matters, I keep them before you:
The first matter:
Holding to the Sharia of Allah and demanding its implementation in the real world, as a methodology of life and a system of state, and this is not just a desirable matter, but rather it is a required obligation, which the Muslim should seek for it with all his strength, and that he reject the other abominable calls of Jahiliya which we tasted and are still tasting because of it humiliation and degradation, and the young and old grew on it.
Happiness, security, success and economic prosperity is under the shadow of the Sharia of Allah Almighty, and that the political, social and economic corruption and the other disasters will be ratified in the absence of the Sharia of Allah, and replacing it with the garbage of the manmade laws.
The Truth Almighty says:
(And if they had kept up the Taurat and the Injeel and that which was revealed to them from their Lord…) 66 Surah Al-Maeda, and the Almighty says: (Say: O followers of the Book! you follow no good…) 68 Surah Al-Maeda, and the moral here is in the common phrase and not the specific reason (for occasion of revelation).
It has been authentically narrated from our prophet peace and blessing of Allah be upon him that he said: “I have left two things with you. As long as you hold fast to them, you will not go astray. They are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah”. And it has been mentioned in the Al-Musnad and Jamee Abu Essa Al-Tirmidhi from the Hadith of Abu Najeeh Al-Erbaz ibn Sariyah that our prophet peace and blessing of Allah be upon him: “Those who will live after me will see much dissension among the Muslims; so adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah way of the rightly guided successors after me”.
And I cannot forget before leaving this point to notify our people and loved ones in Tunis and Kairouan that they shouldn’t be deceived by the people who call to democracy by decorating it under the name of the truth and gave it a religious garment, who have misguided tendencies and the calls that deviate from the straight path that permeated in our societies until it reached a climax, and they aren’t hiding (And if We please We would have made you know them so that you would certainly have recognized them by their marks and most certainly you can recognize them by the intent of (their) speech) 30 Surah Muhammad, and it is true who said:
(Arabic poetry)
The people of evil are known by their semblance and the fingers point at their immorality
So beware from entering to their nets and being deceived by their falsehood…
Secondly:
My Muslim brothers in Tunis and Kairouan: we should be aware that uniting the word and rank is an order from Allah and His messenger peace and blessings of Allah be upon him in many authentic Hadiths and it is also a power for the Muslims, and it isn’t a secret that the enemies of our Ummah are waiting the befalling of calamities to it, they won’t agree that we raise a banner, or achieve a goal, and that is why if we remain in rivalry and dispute when will we liberate Bayt Al-Maqdis?… when will have time to support the Muslims and defend the honor of the religion?… if we use all our means to slander each other and everyone of us uses

al-Katāi’b Media presents a new statement from Ḥarakat al-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn: "Alerting the Muslims to the Deception of the Plotters"

83231050442988793345
Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Ḥarakat al-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn — “Alerting the Muslims to the Deception of the Plotters”
__________

To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

New statement from Dr. Iyād Qunaybī: "On the Anṣār al-Sharī'ah in Tunisia Forum"

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله.

هذه الكلمة لإخواني في أنصار الشريعة في تونس، أكتبها على وجل لأني قصرت في متابعة أحداث تونس ومناصرة إخواني فيها، منشغلا عن ذلك بشأن الشام.
وإني لأعلم أن لي بتونس إخوة لا تنقصهم البصيرة والحكمة والدراية بالواقع ما يغني عن إسهام مثلي، لكنه سهم نسهم به ومناصرة نسأل الله أن يبارك فيها.
أحبتي، يا من تهمون بالمشاركة في الملتقى رغم تهديد وتوعد الجهات الرسمية…إنا لنعلم أن خصومكم بلغوا الدرك الأسفل في خيانة الله والأمانة، والمتاجرة بدمائكم إرضاء لأسيادهم في النظام الدولي، والرفض الوقح للشريعة والنفور والتنفير عنها ومحاولة إخضاع البلاد والعباد لدين الديمقراطية التي تتسع للجميع إلا لدعاة الخير والصلاح من أبناء البلد…بما لا يدع مجالا لتأول لهم ولا لرجاء الخير منهم.
ونعلم أنكم صبرتم على ذلك صبرا حميدا باعثه الإخلاص والتجرد وتقديم مصلحة الدين نحسبكم والله حسيبكم.
ولا يستطيع مثلي أن ينصح بعقد الملتقى أو تعليقه وتحمل تبعات هذه النصيحة، لكني إن قررتم عقد الملتقى فإني أرى لزاما علي أن أذكر إخواني وأحبتي بأمور من واقع خبرة، ((فإن الذكرى تنفع المؤمنين)) وإني أحسبكم إن شاء الله منهم:

1) تجنب لغة التوعد والتهديد على صفحات الإنترنت وفي المقابلات والشعارات المرفوعة قبل المؤتمر وأثناءه، فإن خصمكم قليلَ الأمانة –إن لم يكن عديمها- سيستغل هذه العبارات ويبني عليها أكاذيبه.
حتى عبارات الانتصار، أدعوكم إلى أن تجعلوها “الانتصار للدعوة” حتى لا تبدو عبارات من تأهب للقتال بالسلاح. هذا مع تقديرنا لكون تخويف الخصم الذي لا يردعه دين ولا خلق مطلبا ليكفه عن الفجور في عدوانه، لكن هذه المصلحة قد لا تعدل المفسدة المترتبة على هذه العبارات عندما يلبس بها خصومكم على الناس.

2) الإعلان بوضوح عن متحدثين رسميين باسمكم لا تتحمل الجماعة مسؤولية تصريحات غيرهم. فلا يخفاكم يا حفظكم الله أنه يكثر الاندساس في مثل هذا الوقت.

3) تشكيل لجنة تمنع الناس من رفع شعارات أو النداء بهتافات لا تمثلكم ولا تمثل منهجكم.

4) الحذر من فتنة الميكروفونات ومحبةِ سماع الهتافات المؤيدة، فهذه تجعل المرء يقول أحيانا ما يجر عليه وعلى إخوانه ودعوته ما يحدث الندم بعد فوات الأوان.

5) ضرورة التغطية الإعلامية المكثفة لكل خطوة ونشرها حتى لا ينفرد الآخرون بروايتهم الملفقة.

6) تجنب عبارات الوصف بالكفر والردة. فهذه يفرح بها أهل الأهواء ليحْدثوا بها لدى عامة الناس حالة استغلاق، فتضيع القضية وتُحرمون من بيان الحق للناس ومخاطبة الخير الكامن في فطرهم.
ثم أيها الأحبة إن نجحتم في أن تعرضوا للناس دعوة هادئة نقية ثم رأوا من خصومكم محاربة وقمعا لهذه الدعوة فلسان حال خصومكم سيكون أنطق وأبلغ من ألسنة مقالكم. ولهذا أيضا ننصحكم بالنصيحة السادسة:

7) التركيز في فعالياتكم على عرض ما لديكم من حق دون الكلام عن باطل خصومكم.

ثم نصيحتان أخيرتان مهمتان:

8 ) أن تضعوا –يا بارك الله فيكم- في أذهانكم أننا في مرحلة الدعوة والصبر على تبعاتها. ليس هذا أوان المواجهة بالقوة إخواني. وتذكروا أن سيد الشرفاء الشجعان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم والصحابة معه، أعز الناس نفسا وأكثرهم إباء للضيم، كانوا في مرحلة الدعوة يضربون ويعذبون ويُسخر منهم فيصبرون، لا عن دنية وحاشاهم، لكن لأن المواجهة في غير وقتها مهلكة للدعوة وتغبيش لصورتها في نفوس الناس.

9) كثرة التضرع والدعاء واللجوء إلى الله تعالى في الثلث الأخير من الليل وبعده أن يجعا عاقبة هذا الأمر خيرا وألا يجعل للظالمين عليكم سبيلا.
اللهم احفظ إخواننا في تونس. ربنا أعنهم ولا تعن عليهم وانصرهم ولا تنصر عليهم وامكر لهم ولا تمكر عليهم واهدهم ويسر الهدى لهم، وانصرهم على من بغى عليهم.

_________

To inquire about a translation for this statement for a fee email: [email protected]

al-Katāi’b Media presents thirteen new reports from Ḥarakat al-Shabāb al-Mujāhidīn


News Report For the Day of April 26:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم=&0=&

News Report For the Day of April 27:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم=&1=&

News Report For the Day of April 28:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم=&2=&

News Report For the Day of April 29:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم=&3=&

News Report For the Day of May 1:

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم=&4=&