Inghimasi

Inghimasi often wearexplosive belts(example pictured) alongside regular weapons in order to inflict as much damage as possible on their enemies.

Inghimasi(Arabic:اِنْغِمَاسِيّ,romanized:Inġimāsīy,"become immersed" ), also calledshahid(Arabic:شَهِيد,"martyr" ) andistishhadi(Arabic:اِسْتِشْهَادِيّ,"martyrdom seeker" ),areforlorn hopeorsuicide attackshock troopsutilized by severalSunnijihadistgroups, such as theIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant(ISIL),al-Qaeda,Jabhat al-Nusra,Tahrir al-Sham,Boko Haram,andal-Shabaab.

Definition and etymology

Inghimasi are usually well-trainedguerrilla fighterswho are organized into teams, and infiltrate enemy positions in order to cause as much damage as possible, generally expecting to be killed while doing so.They often wearexplosive beltsthat are to be detonated when the possibility arises that they could be captured, run out of ammunition, or expect to be overwhelmed.Inghimasi fighters usually wear clothing resembling that of the target's forces, and uselight weapons.Inghimasi have to agree to a 'no return' policy, and expect to die in combat.Unlike normal suicide attack forces, however, an Inghimasi can survive their missions and return to their base.The Islamic State gives new recruits the option of becoming an Inghimasi when enlisting, along with the option of operating aSVBIEDor being a regular fighter.The word comes from the Arabic wordInghamasa(انغمس) meaning "to plunge" or "become immersed".

History

Arabic media outlets first reported of Inghimasis in 2013; however, its use on social media originates to 2011, the origin of the Inghimasi concept is attributed toal-Nusra.As the Inghimasi concept is attributed to al-Nusra, founded as the Syrian branch of theIslamic State of Iraqin early 2012, this method of attack became prominent during theSyrian Civil Warand eventually the 2014–2017Iraqi Civil Warbut the usage of Inghimasi tactics have also been used during theSecond Libyan Civil War.Notable uses of Inghimasi operations include theBattle of Al-Tabqa airbase,theSiege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya,the 2016Battle of Kirkuk,and various times during the 2012–2016Battle of Alepposuch as during theAleppo offensivein October and November 2016.

The Inghimasi method of attack is not unique to the Middle East, and has been used in terrorist attacks outside the region. Al-Shabaab inSomaliais known to employ Inghimasis,and theIslamic State's branchinAfghanistanuses them as well.Furthermore, the individuals involved in theNovember 2015 Paris attacksoperated in a similar fashion to Inghimasi.

Notable Inghimasi members and operations

• Hudhayfah al-Badri, son of ISIL leaderAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi,died in combat during an Inghimasi operation against theSyrian ArmyandRussian troopsinHoms Governorate.
• 2018 As-Suwayda attacks
• A raid by four inghimasi fighters belonging to the Islamic State'sWest Africa ProvinceagainstDiffainNigeron 9 April 2019, during theChad Basin campaign (2018–2019)
• A Taliban attack uponForward Operating Base Salernoin Khost on June 2012 was an inghimasi.

References

Works cited

• Anzalone, Christopher (2018)."Black Banners in Somalia: The State of al-Shabaab's Territorial Insurgency and the Specter of the Islamic State"(PDF).CTC Sentinel.11(3).West Point, New York:Combating Terrorism Center:12–20. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2019-08-08.Retrieved2018-06-14.