Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis: A Revolution in a Man

By Latifa Al-Husseini

With determination, trust and faith, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis chose the path of jihad and struggle. The sixty-three year-old man has today become a brilliant name in the battlefields against the Takfiri terrorists in Iraq. He became a prominent leader in the popular mobilization units [Al-Hashd Al-Shaabi] confronting the ‘Daesh' killing machine. So who is this man?

Jamal Al-Ibrahim was born in 1954. He is an Iraqi from Basra whose mother is Iranian. He has a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Technology in Baghdad. In 1970, he joined the Islamic Daawa Party, a decision he made as a result of the injustice the Baathist regime inflicted on the Iraqis. Soon he was wanted by the "Saddamists". He went to Kuwait after Saddam Hussein ordered the assassination of Grand Mufti Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr in 1980 following a crackdown on Daawa activists, during which most of his friends were executed.

His years in Kuwait were spent in jail after being arrested on charges of bombing the American and French embassies on Kuwaiti territory in 1983 until he escaped to the Islamic Republic of Iran while Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait in 1990. Iran was a new starting point for Abu Mahdi's political work, especially within the framework of the Badr Corps, where he later became a prominent military commander until the late 1990s.

In 2003, Abu Mahdi worked on the establishment of the resistance in Iraq with the start of the US occupation. Following the defeat of US forces, he focused on politics. He had roles in the formation of the United National Coalition, the Iraqi National Coalition, and then the National Alliance. He then focused on leading military operations against the Daesh organization and confronting terrorists, especially those who send their suicide bombers to blow themselves up among the innocents in different parts of Iraq.

Abu Mahdi recorded more than one achievement while facing ‘Daesh'. He recorded several victories, most notably the liberation of areas that were completely occupied by the terrorist organization, especially in Diyala, Salah al-Din, Baiji and Jorf al-Sakhr- which houses large oil fields.

When Abu Mahdi recounts his jihadi memories, he hastens to say, "I am fighting for Islam". For this purpose, he never rests for a moment; moving between the camps and pays paramount importance to the families associated with ‘Daesh', i.e. those who joined the ranks of the terrorists.

Abu Mahdi refuses to sectarianize the fighters of the popular mobilization units [Al-Hashd]. That is why he is so keen on their diversity because the objective is one: defeating "Daesh". As for resting, Abu Mahdi has another concept. He sees in jihad "comfort and pleasure" and does not need anything greater.

Because he is determined to continue jihad until the end of his life, Abu Mahdi prefers the company of the sons of his martyred comrades while moving in the field. He does not turn down the request of any fighter from the ‘Hashd' who wanted to take a picture with him, for he might be a martyr tomorrow.

The companion of the "Quds Force" commander Hajj Qassem Soleimani and the friend of the great jihadist commander in the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon Sayyed Mustafa Badr al-Din is proud of his struggle. He is also proud that his name is included on the US's black list because he would be very ashamed if it was included on the white list.

Abu Mahdi, the engineer, left his small family a single will, which he wishes to see fulfilled after his death. He desires to be buried in the Behesht-e Zahra or The Paradise of Zahra cemetery, the largest cemetery in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where thousands of Iranian martyrs lie.

https://www.english.alahednews.com.lb/38908/269