[Scott Sanford] Abu Kandahar (أبو قندهار) reported on Ekhlaas that coalition forces, “crusaders,” killed Ekhlaas member Abu Hurayra 2 (أبو هريرة 2), a major contributor to Ekhlaas, in northern Iraq’s Ninawa province on 21 August 2008. Abu Kandahar is a main contributor to Ekhlaas and Ekhlaas has given him the title of “distinguished pen (قلم متميز),” one of the highest distinctions to achieve, which adds credibility to his report.
Abu Hurayra 2’s last post was on 14 August 2008 where he provided photos of militants supposedly engaging in combat and he reassured readers that operations were increasing by the day. He also gave a cryptic message saying, “I give you these new photos. They are the last for me before my departure from you because I will be absent for a long time.” It is unclear exactly what this means, but it appears that he may have been preparing for his death or arrest.
Abu Kandahar claimed that he received a letter informing him of Abu Hurayra 2’s death and that Abu Hurayra 2 fought some soldiers trying to arrest him. Abu Hurayra 2 allegedly engaged the soldiers with a pistol killing two and wounding one. He also reported that Abu Hurayra 2 restored the Islamic State of Iraq’s (ISI) media operations in Ninawa province. If true, coalition forces may have dealt the ISI a major blow as far as its media arm is concerned. However, if Abu Hurayra 2 was expecting his demise, it is possible that he trained someone else to fulfill his role making his death less of a blow to the ISI.
Document (Arabic): 8-23-2008-Ekhlaas-ah2-killed
Document (Arabic): 8-14-2008-Ekhlaas-ah2-last-post