Israel Matzav

'Peaceful' Mavi Marmara activist killed fighting for al-Qaeda in Syria

One of the 'peaceful' passengers on the Mavi Marmara, who tried to murder Israeli soldiers in May 2010, was killed in a US airstrike in Syria last week, while fighting for al-Qaeda's local affiliate against the Islamist State.

40-year-old Bulent Alniak was killed in a US airstrike in Idlib, northwestern Syria, on a target identified as belonging to the "Islamic State" terrorist group (IS, also known as ISIS or ISIL), according to the Turkish World Bulletin website.

According to that report, Alniak was carrying out "aid work" ahead of the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha. 

But other sources have suggested a somewhat less peaceful motive. Another Turkish outlet, T24, claimed Alniak was in Syria fighting alongside the Nusra Front - Al Qaeda's official branch in Syria. It said he had arrived in Syria over the past summer, on the second day of Ramadan, and also claimed he was killed in Idlib.

Significantly, the Turkish Islamist group behind the Mavi Marmara flotilla which Alniak was an active member of - the Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) - is suspected of having close ties to Al Qaeda.

And in case you're trying to keep score at home....

Nusra and Islamic State have been at loggerheads since the latter broke away from Al Qaeda earlier this year, but both share a vehemently anti-western ideology, and western security analysts fear a terror plot by returning foreign fighters from either group could be just a matter of time.

A curse on both their houses.  I hope someone wraps his body in pig lard.

Labels: al-Qaeda, Gaza, Hamas, IHH, Islamic State, Mavi Marmara, Nusra Front, Syria, Turkey, Turkish obsession with Israel

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:38 PM