Abdulhadi al-Iraqi

Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi
Born	Nashwan Abdulrazaq Abdulbaqi al-Tamir 1961 Mosul, Iraq
Occupation	Militant leader
Known for	Al-Qaeda leadership, detainee at Guantanamo Bay

Nashwan Abdulrazaq Abdulbaqi al-Tamir (Arabic: نشوان عبدالرزاق عبدالباقي التامر; born 1961), widely recognized by the name Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi, is an Iraqi national affiliated with Al-Qaeda who is currently detained at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba.

Early life

Born in 1961 in Mosul to a Sunni Arab family, al-Iraqi's native language is Arabic. Over time, he acquired proficiency in Urdu, Pashto, Kurdish, and Persian. His military background includes service in the Iraqi Army during the Iran-Iraq War, followed by participation in combat against Soviet forces during their occupation of Afghanistan.

Alleged terrorism activities

The Pentagon has identified Hadi as a significant paramilitary leader operating in Afghanistan throughout the late 1990s. Between 2002 and 2004, he reportedly orchestrated cross-border assaults targeting US and coalition troops. He faced allegations of directing attacks against coalition forces and being involved in conspiracies aimed at Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Following the 2001 US invasion, he reportedly had tactical disagreements with Ahmed Khadr concerning frontline engagements.

Al-Iraqi is believed to have overseen the Ashara guest house in Kabul, which functioned as a command center for al-Qaeda’s military operations and financial management. He had been sought by authorities in Iraq since at least February 2005. The latest wanted notice from the U.S. State Department classified him as one of Osama bin Laden’s primary global deputies, personally entrusted with supervising al-Qaeda activities within Iraq. His military credentials include advancing to the rank of Major under Saddam Hussein’s regime before affiliating with al-Qaeda, and he was responsible for directing several terrorist training facilities.

According to a Newsweek report, al-Iraqi played a pivotal role in mediating a 2005 agreement between Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, advocating for Zarqawi to lead Al-Qaeda in Iraq to consolidate efforts rather than engage in competition for resources.

In January 2002, reports emerged that an individual using his aliases had been apprehended in Afghanistan; however, this person is now regarded as separate from al-Iraqi. Among detainees, Abdul Zahir has been charged with acting as a translator for al-Iraqi.

A 2002 correspondence attributed to Saif al-Adel references Abd al-Hadi al-Iraqi as a senior figure within al-Qaeda who remained at large, likely based in Afghanistan. The US Department of Defense indicated that from 2002 to 2004 he led cross-border operations and sought to return to Iraq to oversee al-Qaeda’s affairs and potentially broaden its activities beyond Iraq targeting Western interests.

Capture

On April 27, 2007, reports confirmed his detention at Guantanamo Bay detention camp, following prior custody by the CIA. US officials stated his arrest took place in late 2006.

On September 6, 2006, then-US President George W. Bush acknowledged the existence of secret CIA interrogation facilities abroad and announced that fourteen "high value detainees" had been transferred from these locations to Guantanamo. Bush asserted that this transfer effectively cleared these clandestine sites; however, critics highlighted the lack of formal closure announcements and ambiguity regarding the exact timing of al-Iraqi’s capture. A habeas corpus petition was filed representing him.

The United States Department of Defense announced on August 9, 2007, that all fourteen detainees moved from CIA black sites were officially designated as "enemy combatants," allowing them to be charged before Guantanamo military commissions despite previous court rulings restricting such trials to "illegal" enemy combatants only.

Medical condition

Al-Iraqi is afflicted with a spinal disorder. Prior to Hurricane Irma's arrival in Cuba, camp officials arranged for an urgent surgical intervention by a neurosurgical team. His legal representatives argue that the progression of his ailment stems from ten years of insufficient medical attention, whereas military officials highlight his situation as proof of the comprehensive healthcare detainees receive.

A CT scan conducted in January 2017 revealed a surgical necessity, but the operation was postponed until he experienced loss of leg sensation and control over bladder and bowel functions. On September 15, 2017, his attorneys disclosed that further surgery involving his spine and neck was required.

External links

• Myopic Pentagon keeps filling Guantánamo – Andy Worthington, September 20, 2007
• Charges and Specifications in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. ABD AL HADI AL-IRAQI (Miami Herald, archived)