An Israeli Arab who traveled to Syria to fight in the ranks of Daesh group was killed in western Iraq, according to Israeli media reports on Saturday.
Ahmed Habashi, 23, hailed from the village of Iksal, just south of Nazareth. Earlier this year, Habashi and four other Israeli Arabs departed for Syria in hopes of joining Daesh, the Jerusalem Post reported.
According to the latest information, Habashi spent months in Syria before continuing on to Iraq. It is believed that Habashi was killed in fighting between Daesh terrorists and their enemies in the strategically vital Al-Anbar province in western Iraq.
Habashi’s brother, who learned of his death, confirmed the report to local media.
“We do know that this young man indeed left the village a few months ago and went to Syria,” Abdel Salaam Darausha, the head of the Iksal local council, told Channel 2. “This morning, I heard that he was killed but I didn’t hear that his death was announced on the mosque loudspeakers, which is customary in the Muslim community.”
“I’m not sure that the family is eager to announce publicly that their son was killed fighting for Islamic State,” a source close to the family told Channel 2. “But the news has spread across social media.”
Habashi is not the only Israeli national to enlist in the Islamic State cause. Earlier this year, another Israeli Arab from Wadi Ara was killed fighting for Daesh.