STATUS UNKNOWN
- Full name: Soufiane Makouh
- Pseudonym: Abu Zaïd al-Belgiki
- Alternatives: N/a
- Location: Syria, fmr Belgium
- Affiliation: Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh]
Soufiane Makouh (°1993) was a jihadi of North African descent from the Schaarbeek suburb of Brussels. He became drawn to radical Salafism after joining the Kamikaze Riders, a Muslim motorcycle club active in the Belgian capital city.1 Makouh and his brother were also associated with Antwerp-based imam Youssef el-Gbouri.2
In late September 2015, Makouh traveled to Syria where he joined the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi ash-Sham wal-Iraq].3 At one point, Makouh volunteered to become a suicide bomber.4 He was reportedly assigned to help the external operations wing of the DaIISh instead.5 Makouh apparently rose through the ranks, although his exact role was unclear.6
Makouh kept a low-profile, but intelligence services became aware of his activities. The Belgian government froze his assets in November 2016.7 On Jun. 02, 2018, he was killed in an American air strike in Syria.8 In November 2018, Makouh was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison by a Belgian court.9 At the time, judges were unaware of his death which was only announced after a few months.
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