Abu Ali al-Anbari



Abu Ali al-Anbari is a nom de guerre for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) governor for territories held by the organization in Syria. Considered the ISIL second-in-command (along with his counterpart Abu Muslim al-Turkmani(KIA) who held a similar position in Iraq), he plays a political role of overseeing the local councils and acts as a kind of political envoy. His military role includes directing operations against both other Syrian rebels who oppose President Bashar al-Assad's government and the Syrian government itself.

al-Anbari is a former Iraqi Army Major General under Saddam Hussein who rose through al Qaeda in Iraq after being ejected from another Iraqi radical Sunni group, Ansar al-Islam amid financial corruption allegations. He is thought to be from Mosul.

Reportedly his knowledge of Shariah Islamic rules isn't considered as extensive as that of other senior leaders according to ISIL militants interviewed.

"I describe Baghdadi as a shepherd, and his deputies are the dogs who herd the sheep [ISIL's members], the strength of the shepherd comes from his dogs." said Hisham al-Hashimi, a security analyst who had access to documents discovered which provided details on al-Anbari.