Israeli Arab who joined Islamic State killed in fighting in western Iraq

Ahmed Habashi, 23, hailed from from the village of Iksal, just south of Nazareth

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ahmed Habashi, an Israeli Arab who joined Islamic State (photo credit: FACEBOOK)
Ahmed Habashi, an Israeli Arab who joined Islamic State
(photo credit: FACEBOOK)
An Israeli Arab from the Galilee who traveled to Syria to fight in the ranks of the Islamic State was killed in western Iraq, according to Israeli media reports on Saturday.
Ahmed Habashi, 23, who hailed from the village of Iksal, just south of Nazareth, departed for Syria earlier this year with four other Israeli Arabs hoping to join Islamic State.
Habashi apparently spent months in Syria before continuing on to Iraq, and it is believed he was killed in fighting between Islamic State 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.”
Earlier this year, another Israeli Arab from Wadi Ara was killed fighting for Islamic State.