Mohammed al-Isawi (Jihadi Militant, Egypt)

• Full name: Mohammed Ahmed Ali al-Isawi
• Pseudonym: Abu Osama al-Masri
• Alternatives: Mohammed Isawi
• Location: Sinai
• Affiliation: Islamic State’s Province of Sinai [DaIWS], fmr Partisans of the Holy House [ABaM]

Mohammed al-Isawi (°1973) is a senior commander and the spiritual leader of the Islamic State’s Province of Sinai [DaIWS; Dawlat al-Islamiya Wilayat Sina’a]. He is a mysterious figure who always hides his face.¹ Isawi suffers from vitiligo and is usually recognized by the marks on his hands.² Although he was born in North Sinai, Isawi grew up as a member of a prominent family in the Sharqiya governorate.³ He studied at the Azhar University in the Egyptian capital before earning a living as a clothes trader.⁴

During the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, Isawi reportedly escaped prison where he was being held for unknown reasons.⁵ He subsequently linked up with jihadi elements operating on the Sinai peninsula and eventually joined the Partisans of the Holy House [ABaM; Ansar Ba’it al-Maqdis]. At some point Isawi received training by unknown jihadi forces in the Gaza Strip.⁶ Isawi also traveled to Syria to fight in the ranks of the jihadi forces.⁷ No specific information is available on his activities in the country.

After his in Syria, Isawi returned to the Sinai in 2013. Articulate and well-versed in Islamic jurisprudence, Isawi became the group’s main spokesman and started making appearances in its propaganda materials.⁸ Over time, he emerged as one of the ABaM’s most senior leaders.⁹

Isawi is thought to have been one of the leading proponents of the ABaM’s gradual alignment with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiya fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham]. In July 2014, he released a statement praising the organization.¹⁰ The ABaM eventually merged into DaIISh in November 2014. The Egyptian authorities wrongly reported to have killed Isawi in October 2014.¹¹

Isawi helped establish the newly-formed DaIWS as one of the main foreign branches of the DaIISh. He was reported to have masterminded the Oct. 31, 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner as it was flying over the Sinai.¹² The attack killed more than 200 passengers and crew members. Following the death of DaIWS top leader Mohammed Ziada in August 2016, Isawi was assumed by many observers to have replaced him.¹³ Another top chief was appointed however. The American government designated Isawi as a global terrorist in May 2017.¹⁴