MESOP SPECIAL : New Chechen Faction Ajnad Kavkaz Fights Alongside JAN In Idlib / By Joanna Paraszczuk

30 March 2015 – A new Chechen faction calling itself Ajnad Kavkaz (AK) has emerged in Syria’s Idlib province where it has fought alongside Jabhat al-Nusra (JAN) and other Syrian Islamist battalions for control of that city. The Emir of AK is Abdul Hakim Shishani, who was formerly the Emir of a Latakia-based group, the Khalifat Battalion.

I wrote about Abdul Hakim, who is a veteran militant from Chechnya, here: Abdul Hakim Shishani, Emir of Khalifat Jamaat, Fought in Chechnya and here: A Little More About Abdul Hakim Shishani, Emir Of Khalifat Jamaat Reports say that there were around 45 militants from AK participating in the Idlib offensive, along with a handful of fighters from Tarkhan’s Jamaat, the group loyal to Chechen militant Tarkhan Ismailovich Gaziyev. Tarkhan’s Jamaat was also based in Latakia and both it and Khalifat Battalion took part in the offensives in Kassab last year.

30.3.2015 New Chechen Faction Ajnad Kavkaz Fights Alongside JAN In Idlib | From Chechnya To Syria http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23585#more­23585 2/3 There are no reports so far of the third Latakia-based Chechen faction, Junud aSham, and its leader Muslim Shishani, taking part in the offensive. AK has its own banner: As indications of his Abdul Hakim Shishani has been photographed in Idlib with Sheikh Abdullah al-Muhaisany [*]: The jamaat in Idlib: [*] Muslim Shishani was of course also previously photographed with Muhaisany, in Latakia province: 30.3.2015

New Chechen Faction Ajnad Kavkaz Fights Alongside JAN In Idlib | From Chechnya To Syria http://www.chechensinsyria.com/?p=23585#more­23585 3/3 Proudly powered by WordPress From Chechnya To Syria News & Analysis of Russian-speaking Foreign Fighters In Syria You might also like Recommended by Twitter 17 Print Tumblr Reddit Email Google Follow March 30, 2015 joanna paraszczuk Abdul Hakim Shishani, Caucasus, Caucasus Emirate, Chechens In Syria, Jabhat al Nusra Abdul Hakim Shishani, Ajnad Kavkaz, Chechnya, Idlib, Latakia, Tarkhan Gaziyev, Tarkhan’s Jamaat Which Dagestani Caucasus Emirate Groups Are Switching To IS? sayfullakh restaurant In Handarat, Seyfullakh Shishani’s Jamaat Report Using Donkeys To Transport Supplies Caucasus Emirate Emir Calls Dagestani Pledges To IS “Act Of Treachery” muslim w sayf jamaat