Saïd Arif
Saïd Arif | |
|---|---|
| سعيد عارف | |
 Arif, as seen in an undated photograph | |
| Born | 1965 |
| Died | May 2015 |
| Cause of death | Drone strike |
| Organizations |
|
| Known for | Involvement with Abu Musab al-Zarqawi |
Saïd Arif, also known by several noms de guerre, including Omar Gharib[2] (lit. "foreigner Omar," or "stranger Omar"), Slimane Chabani,[1] and Abderrahmane[1] (among others[2]) (1965–May 2015) was an Algerian mujahed. He associated with Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Georgia, and was involved with several unrealised terrorist plots in France and Germany[3][4] He also helped to arrange the transmission of European fighters to, and back from, the war in Iraq. Following a prison term in France, he escaped house arrest to Syria, where he was killed by a U.S. drone strike in May 2015.[5]
Life
[edit]Arif was an officer in Algerian army.[3] In the second half of the 1990s, he deserted his lieutenant's[citation needed] commission and joined Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan.[4]
According to one source, Arif later claimed that in early 2000 he participated in an Al-Qaeda meeting in Kabul.[4] Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Doha, another Algerian, were said to have talked at the lunch meeting, while Arif talked to members of Zarqawi's group, Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad.[4]
Later that year, Arif returned to Europe to settle in Germany. He was allegedly in contact with Mohammed Bensakhria's Frankfurt-based terrorist cell, and was suspected in connection with its unsuccessful attempt to bomb the Strasbourg Christmas market in December 2000.[6]
Arif was also considered to be involved in Ibrahim Mohammed's terrorist cell located in Germany.[citation needed] Escaping arrest, he fled to Pakistan.
From Pakistan to the Pankisi Gorge
[edit]Later, after the September 11 attacks and subsequent fall of the Taliban, Arif sought out the Chechen guerrilla forces, which contained strong Islamist and Salafi jihadist currents. Like a number of other Afghan Arabs, Arif made his way to a guerrilla camp in the Pankisi Gorge,[4] Georgia, some 25 miles from the border with Russia. There is no evidence that he ever participated in the Second Chechen War itself, but at the camp he allegedly developed a "special rapport" with Abu Atiya, the local commander of Zarqawi's organisation,[7][4][6] which he joined.[citation needed]
Arif met other jihadist fighters from France including Menad Benchellali, who would go on to return to France and lead the "Chechen network," including Arif,[3] in developing a number of unrealised terrorist plots.[4]
Arif was responsible for setting up networks to transmit European volunteers through Syria to join the fighting against the U.S. and its allies in the War in Iraq.[citation needed] He was also responsible for purchasing and transporting several Swisscom-made telephone chips to al-Zarqawi.[citation needed] These chips were used by al-Zarqawi until September 2003 to make calls from Iraq and from the Syrian border areas of the Husseiba region. The investigation carried out by the Swiss Federal Office made it possible to draw up a summary table of the calls made by al-Zarqawi.
Arif made his way to Syria. Using the networks he established in Europe, his aim was not only to continue to supply fighters to the anti-American guerrillas in Iraq, but also to begin to organize the movement of fighters back towards Europe and their reintegration.[citation needed] Several hundred jihadists, after their combat tours in Iraq, were thus sent back to their country of origin in Europe, with the mission of forming cells at the disposal of Al-Qaeda.[8][3]
Arrest
[edit]Arif was arrested in Damascus in May 2003[4] and extradited to France on 17 June 2004.[1]
After his arrest and extradition to France, Arif revealed to Jean-Louis Bruguière the existence of networks of Islamist fighters returning from Iraq and responsible for preparing attacks, particularly in Italy and England.[8]
Convicted in 2007 for several attempted attacks in France, and again released in 2011, to be placed under house arrest, the European Court of Human Rights opposed his expulsion to Algeria, due to the risk of torture. In January 2012, he escaped from house arrest. He was incarcerated at the De Seysses prison near Toulouse in March 2012, before being released 9 months later under house arrest for a second time.[9]
While under house arrest in Brioude, Arif gave an interview to the Tunisian newspaper Le Renouveau. The interview was covered by the French press[6][8][9] and condemned by a local legislator.[10] Arif fled to Syria in May 2013.[11][12]
Terrorist designation
[edit]On 18 August 2014, the United States Department of State designated Arif as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.[3][2] His arrest warrant in France was also released via an Interpol Red Notice.[3]
Death
[edit]Arif was killed by an American drone strike toward the end of May 2015, according to French officials.[5]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Algerian tied to terrorists extradited to France". NBC News. Associated Press. 17 June 2004. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b c Kerry, John F. (8 August 2014). "In the Matter of the Designation of Said Arif Also Known as Said Mohamed Arif Also Known as Omar Gharib Also Known as Abderahmane Also Known as Abderrahmane Also Known as Souleiman Also Known as Abdallah al-Jazairi Also Known as Slimane Chabani as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist Pursuant to Section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as Amended". Federal Register. United States Government. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f "Terrorist Designation of Said Arif". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hafez, Mohammed M. (2007). Suicide Bombers in Iraq: the Strategy and Ideology of Martyrdom. Washington DC: United States Institute of Peace. p. 172. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b "Le jihadiste algérien Saïd Arif tué en mai en Syrie". RP Defense. AFP. 17 September 2015. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b c France, Centre (2013-12-04). "Le Renouveau doit répondre des propos tenus par Saïd Arif". www.lamontagne.fr. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Chichizola, Jean (3 November 2005). "Islamist threats to aircraft in Europe". Le Figaro. Archived from the original on 25 March 2025. Retrieved 25 March 2025.
- ^ a b c France, Centre (2013-04-03). "Un militant islamiste, assigné à résidence à Brioude, poursuivi pour apologie du terrorisme". www.lamontagne.fr. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ a b "Qui est Saïd Arif, l'islamiste en fuite ?". Le Nouvel Obs (in French). 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Communiqué de presse du député Jean-Pierre Vigier
- ^ "La fuite programmée du terroriste islamiste Saïd Arif". La Montagne. 12 May 2013..
- ^ "Le terroriste Saïd Arif refait surface en Syrie". Le Point. April 10, 2014.
