• Why Jihad Watch?
  • About Robert Spencer and Staff Writers
  • FAQ
  • Books
  • Muhammad
  • Islam 101
  • Privacy

Jihad Watch

Exposing the role that Islamic jihad theology and ideology play in the modern global conflicts

American-trained sniper now Islamic State “minister of war”

Sep 7, 2016 5:26 pm By Christine Douglass-Williams

The Department of State announced at the end of August that its Rewards for Justice Program was offering “up to $3 million for information leading to the location, arrest, and/or conviction of Gulmurod Khalimov”, an Islamic State member and recruiter.

Khalimov is now the top dog “minister of war” for the Islamic State. The 41-year-old colonel underwent US special arms training as a sniper by the State Department. His training was in counter-terrorism, which included tactical leadership training, making him an especially dangerous man. Khalimov “became radicalized fairly recently.”

Last year, MEMRI reported that Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi called on professionals living in the West “to immigrate to the territories under his control and help build up the state”; which included engineers, doctors, preachers, scholars of Islamic jurisprudence, judges, and military experts. Kalimov, thanks to the State Department, is the latter.

isis-dog

“US-trained sniper now ‘minister of war’ for ISIS”, by Jamie Schram, New York Post, September 7, 2016:

An American-trained sniper has been promoted to a top position in the Islamic State war machine.

Gulmurod Khalimov, a 41-year-old colonel who underwent US special arms training while heading the Tajikistan special police force, was tapped to be ISIS’s minister of war, according to a new report.

The US State Department reportedly has put a $3 million bounty on Khalimov, who has become one of the world’s most wanted men, news.com.au reported.

Khalimov has replaced the infamous red-bearded Tarhan Batirashvili, better known as “Omar the Chechen,” who rose through the ranks of ISIS before he was killed in a US airstrike in July.

“The Tajik has been appointed as the successor to the dead terrorist Tarhan Batirashvili who (was) also known as Abu Omar al-Shishani (Omar the Chechen),” according to the Iraqi News, citing an unnamed Iraqi security source.

“The Tajik Golmurud Khalimov was elected as the first military commander in ISIS. The organization did not announce it officially because it fears that once mentioned, there might be a series of airstrikes against them,” Iraqi News said.

Khalimov, a father of eight, became radicalized fairly recently.

He joined the Islamic State in 2015 after disappearing while serving as chief of Tajikistan’s special police force last April.

The State Department’s Diplomatic Security/Anti-Terrorism Assistance program organized the courses, which were also taught by Academi — the private American military company formerly known as Blackwater.

In the video, Khalimov also bragged that he received military training in Russia while Tajikistan’s police chief…..

His second wife, an ex-press secretary for Tajikistan’s customs service, reportedly has stayed by his side and is also wanted by the authorities.

Interpol has issued a Red Notice for his arrest and extradition to Tajikistan, where he is being sought for treason….

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)

Follow me on Facebook

Filed Under: Featured, Islamic State (aka ISIS, ISIL, Daesh), Tajikistan Tagged With: Department of State, Gulmurod Khalimov, Rewards for Justice Program


Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Comments

  1. Champ says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 5:28 pm

    American-trained sniper now Islamic State “minister of war”

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    And now an American-TRAITOR!

    • Angemon says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 6:02 pm

      He’s not American. He’s a Russian who, because he was part of Russian law enforcement, received counter-terrorist training with foreign trainers, including American.

      • Christianblood says

        Sep 7, 2016 at 6:56 pm

        He is not Russian. He was a member Tajikistani special forces:

        https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/20160905/1044964776/gulmuro-khalimov-isis-commander-iraq.html

        • Angemon says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:34 pm

          Christianblood posted:

          “He is not Russian. He was a member Tajikistani special forces:”

          The Republic of Tajikistan was created in 1991. Khalimov is 41 years old, so he was born in 1974 or 1975.

        • Christianblood says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:40 pm

          Angemon

          There is an independent central Asian country known as Tajikistan and it is NOT part of Russia.

        • Angemon says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:42 pm

          I’m just going to copy/paste what I wrote a couple of posts ago and that you seemingly ignored because you have a narrative you’re trying to push:

          Angemon says

          September 7, 2016 at 7:34 pm

          The Republic of Tajikistan was created in 1991. Khalimov is 41 years old, so he was born in 1974 or 1975.

      • Champ says

        Sep 7, 2016 at 7:06 pm

        Ok he’s still a TRAITOR!

        • Christianblood says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:19 pm

          To you and me he may be a traitor but to the American authorities who trained him and thousands of others like him he is not a traitor but a valuable tool for their regime change political agenda.

        • Angemon says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:35 pm

          Citations needed.

        • Champ says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 8:01 pm

          “Citations needed.”

          Seriously?

          You must ask that question 50 times in one day …

          He’s a “traitor”. Period. And now you want “citations”?

          Find your own.

        • Angemon says

          Sep 14, 2016 at 7:17 pm

          My request for citations was not directed at you, Champ, but at Christianblood who wrote “to the American authorities who trained him and thousands of others like him he is not a traitor but a valuable tool for their regime change political agenda“. Since CB is seemingly privy to the inner thoughts of these shadow individuals it should be wasy for him to back his assertions.

        • Champ says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 8:04 pm

          Christianblood, you make a good point, and thank you for your courteous reply. But given your propensity to be anti-American–in general, then I fully expect you to see it this way.

          Take care.

        • Christianblood says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 8:50 pm

          Champ posted

          (..Christianblood, you make a good point, and thank you for your courteous reply..)

          You are welcome Champ! And I must say you also made a very good point in your (September 7, 2016 at 8:01 pm) reply to Angemon! Thanks again!

        • Mirren10 says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 7:49 am

          Christianblood said:

          ”To you and me he may be a traitor but to the American authorities who trained him and thousands of others like him he is not a traitor but a valuable tool for their regime change political agenda.”

          Champ, I think Angemon was asking *Christianblood* for citations, not you.

        • Angemon says

          Sep 14, 2016 at 7:20 pm

          Indeed I was, Mirren.

        • c matt says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 10:51 am

          Traitor to Tajikistan, he is. And he would be Tajik, not Russian. In the ’70s, you would have been a member of the USSR/CCCP, but your nationality would have been Tajik, Russian, etc. depending on where you were born – like EU vs. Italian, German, Spanish, etc. You could be both Tajik and Soviet, Russian and Soviet, but you couldn’t be both Tajik and Russian.

        • Champ says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 4:50 pm

          Thank you, Mirren10. Perhaps you’re right.

      • Christianblood says

        Sep 7, 2016 at 7:34 pm

        Angemon posted

        (..He’s a Russian who, because he was part of Russian law enforcement, received counter-terrorist training with foreign trainers, including American..)

        This is ridiculous!
        Angemon, since when do the Russian law enforcement receive training from the spineless, transgendered and politically-correct American forces?

        • Angemon says

          Sep 7, 2016 at 7:38 pm

          Christianblood posted:

          “This is ridiculous!
          Angemon, since when do the Russian law enforcement receive training from the spineless, transgendered and politically-correct American forces?
          ”

          Since the early 90’s.

      • Shane says

        Sep 8, 2016 at 10:21 am

        This just show the futility of training muslims in special forces program as you never know which one of these muslim trainees will become a Jihadi.

        • EYESOPEN says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 9:42 pm

          Bingo! You win the logic prize for today!

  2. Boris99 says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 5:41 pm

    Liam Neeson has joined the other side it seems.

    • marina says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 6:29 pm

      Well said. Lol !!

  3. JIMJFOX says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 5:48 pm

    He’ll be hearing a drone very soon.

  4. linnte says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 5:51 pm

    Was he a Muslim while in the Armed Forces? If so, they trained a MUSLIM to do this? Thanks Obama.

  5. Christianblood says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 6:01 pm

    Along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UK, France and Turkey, America trains, pays their salaries, arms and supports thousands of international jihadist mercenaries who fighting in Syria to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad.

    Recently, US Peace Council Representatives Returned from their fact-finding mission to Syria and they shared their findings on the video below:

    • Angemon says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 6:04 pm

      Christianblood posted:

      “Along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UK, France and Turkey, America trains, pays their salaries, arms and supports thousands of international jihadist mercenaries who fighting in Syria to overthrow the Syrian government of Assad. ”

      Citation needed. Oh, and please explain the relevance of that factoid to the story at hand about a Russian turned jihadi.

  6. marina says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 6:27 pm

    That is one confused colonel. There was one topless model and now this colonel. Abu Bakr’s call on professionals living in the West “to immigrate” is becoming a reality.

  7. Christianblood says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 6:31 pm

    The FACT is that there are at least a thousand muslim jihadists from Chechnya and other muslims from the Caucasus areas in the Russian federation who are now fighting for ISIS, Alnusra and other jihadist groups in Syria and many of them are being trained, armed and salaried by the CIA and Karimov is one of them.

    • Angemon says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 7:30 pm

      Christianblood posted:

      “The FACT is that there are at least a thousand muslim jihadists from Chechnya and other muslims from the Caucasus areas in the Russian federation who are now fighting for ISIS, Alnusra and other jihadist groups in Syria and many of them are being trained, armed and salaried by the CIA and Karimov is one of them.”

      Then it should be easy for you to prove it. Saying something is a “FACT” does not make it so. Nice moving of goalposts, BTW. Oh, and you’re not answering my question about the relevance of what you said to this news article.

      • Alarmed Pig Farmer says

        Sep 7, 2016 at 8:24 pm

        Saying something is a “FACT” does not make it so.

        Take a look at Barack, Hillary and John and then say that.

      • Seabird says

        Sep 8, 2016 at 1:27 pm

        Angemon-The Russian Govt. itself has provided the figure of about 1,000 Jihadists involved in the Syrian War from its territories.
        What possible political gain could be derived by admitting that?
        The US Govt has repeatedly admitted training combatants in the region and extensively in Jordan. In Iraq, many would take the training long enough to be issued weapons-then disappear.
        It is a fact that recently 250 “American advisors” are training/advising combatants in Syria.
        The US Govt has recently admitted that there are more weapons “lost” in Iraq than possessed by US coalition forces there (about 980,000 (!).
        What can’t be proven (at this point) is that the CIA has “salaried” Jihadists directly because there are no records (or admissions) available to do that.
        The US Govt. likes to “subcontract” to 3rd parties who may be making those payments through Turkey’s MIT or Saudi intel. Agency (to locals there).
        Find the proof that the US Govt. (CIA) is making direct payments to Jihadists in Syria (or anywhere else) and you will have discovered a violation of US Law or even treason.
        I doubt you will ever see proof of that.

    • Wellington says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 7:42 pm

      And Putin supports in Assad, Christianblood, a Muslim fighting against other Muslims, just as Putin has provided all kinds of military technology to the Shiite Iranian regime.

      C’mon. Has America made mistakes in the fight against what the desultory and despicable Islamic world poses to mankind? You bet. But so has Russia. But you won’t admit this and herein lies an enormous weakness in ALL your arguments, i.e., the attempt to be ruthlessly objective no matter where truth will take you wherein you dismally and often times risibly fail.

      And please don’t bother to provide me examples of America screwing up where dealing with the Islamic world is concerned. I admit it has. But you won’t admit that Russia has too and that is why your arguments here at JW sound hollow time and time and time again.

      • Christianblood says

        Sep 7, 2016 at 8:56 pm

        Wellington

        You made very good points. It would be great of the US & Russia work together (as Donald Trump suggested) and defeat the muslim terrorists who are the true enemy of all freedom-loving human beings.

        • Seabird says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 11:43 am

          CB-Maybe you could start by explaining just what exactly did Putin receive from Erdogan for allowing Turkey to invade Syria to kill Kurds there?
          Surely Putin knows Turkey’s support of terrorists and the objections of the Syrian Govt. (and UN) to that invasion.
          Also, I’ve read that the Russian military will soon become about 40% Muslim in the coming years with access to some very deadly weapons-which doesn’t seem to concern you (or Putin).
          Russia’s capitulation (or sell-out) to Turkey is not being viewed favorably by Kurds and other minorities in Syria especially the Christians there (many were refugees from Turkey’s previous Genocide).
          My point being that Russia is not immune from criticism here.

        • Christianblood says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 6:45 pm

          Seabird

          The situation is Syria is complicated and the invasion of Turkey is right now very limited to clearing near its borders of ISIS and others they may see a threat to the Turkish state and Russia is aware of that.

          Concerning the Russian military becoming 40% islamic, that will not happen! You have to know that right now, there is no political correctness disease in the Russian government and military and society and such things will not happen there. Only if Russia (God forbid) becomes like a Western-style, anti-Christian, pro-islamic, liberal democracy, like the US and Western Europe is now than you have to really be concerned about such things happening. You may want to see the video below to refresh your mind about present-day Russia and how things stand there:

      • c matt says

        Sep 8, 2016 at 10:57 am

        Trying to overthrow Assad seems to be the bigger mistake, and we own that mistake. Assad for the most part kept things in check (same reason Bush 1 did not want to get rid of Saddam). Even Syrian Christians have told me first hand they would prefer Assad. Not that what actual Syrian Christians want matters one whit to this administration.

        • EYESOPEN says

          Sep 8, 2016 at 9:45 pm

          Exactly “c matt”. Assad – as far as the Christians and Alawites are concerned – is definitely the “lesser of two weevils”.

  8. SAKOVKT says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 7:16 pm

    “Rewards for Justice” offered by the State Dept. for the sniper they themselves trained?
    That’s Rich!
    Only Loretta Lynch could explain the “justice” in that.
    Flip side : I’m not sure how beneficial all that loser-side training really was, other than “know your enemy”.

    • Christianblood says

      Sep 7, 2016 at 7:22 pm

      SAKOVT posted

      (..“Rewards for Justice” offered by the State Dept. for the sniper they themselves trained?That’s Rich!..)

      You are right. That is indeed Richkocht!!!

  9. DP111 says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 7:32 pm

    OT

    Muslims in Buffalo, NY Say “F**k America!” After Being Convicted of Food Stamp Fraud

    http://townhall.com/tipsheet/justinholcomb/2016/09/06/muslims-in-buffalo-ny-say-fk-america-after-being-convicted-in-food-stamp-fraud-n2214725

  10. mortimer says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 7:35 pm

    Why doesn’t Pope Francis go and convince Khalimov that he misunderstands Islam.

    Surely, Khalimov will believe that the Pope knows more about Islam than Caliph al Baghdadi who merely did a BA, MA and PhD in Islamic studies.

  11. Alarmed Pig Farmer says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 8:13 pm

    Having top coaching talent is important in sports, especially the sport of war. The troops are highly motivated, but it takes a set of stones on the sidelines to push the ball over the goal line. A good example of this was when in 1946 the suddenly unemployed soldiers in the Nazi terror unit moved on down to Cairo and began training and commanding the nascent flock of Mujahadin there and all around the Mideast. When your gun’s loaded and the target is standing before a camera pleading that you’re misunderstood, the killing fields are far and wide. Go get ’em, coach. Praise Allah.

  12. Mark Spahn (West Seneca, NY) says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 9:16 pm

    http://m.state.gov/md261373.htm does indeed say “The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program is offering a reward of up to $3 million for information leading to the location, arrest, and/or conviction of Gulmurod Khalimov (variant Halimov), a key leader of the terrorist group ISIL, also known in Arabic as Da’esh.”

    Did you notice that conjunction? It’s not “and”; it’s “and/or”, which in this context is equivalent to “or”. So all you have to do to collect the $3 million is to provide information that leads to the fugitive’s location; arrest and conviction are not required. I think he’s in Raqqa. If this location information proves correct, I am entitled to the $3 million reward.

  13. citycat says

    Sep 7, 2016 at 9:52 pm

    Politics- dark light shrouded with moth goons.
    I can’t stand it- but know thine enemy.
    It’s too heavy for fairies.

  14. Michael Johnson says

    Sep 8, 2016 at 10:39 am

    They train these people and they turn the gun on them classic

  15. Dean says

    Sep 8, 2016 at 11:32 am

    Today’s moderate Muslim is tomorrow’s militant Muslim whenever opportunity knocks. So go ahead give them effective killing techniques and tactical skills and then be surprised when he uses it against you. “Recently radicalized” is simply coming out of the closet for every fundamental Muslim.

    • Keys says

      Sep 8, 2016 at 11:38 am

      We gave them the weapons, too.

      • Dean says

        Sep 8, 2016 at 12:48 pm

        Of course, American trained and fully equipped radical jihadists.

  16. Gloria Negro says

    Sep 8, 2016 at 12:35 pm

    Who’s this white cracka pretending to be with his doo-rag and earring? Pirate captain Jack Sparrow?
    He is fighting for a “religion” who’s main PR guy was a drunken incestuous, murderous pedophile…I guess he needs something to hold on too.
    Arrrrrrggggggg, Matey!

    Gloria Negro, PhD, MD, J.S.D., ABBA, WHAM!
    Trans-gender, Trans-racial (Do NOT diss me), Trans-special, Trans-occupational, Trans-classical, Trans-social status, Trans-cultural, Trans-dimensional and Transparent .
    Community Organizer, Professor Harvard Skool of Law,
    President, CEO of:
    ISIL (Barrack chapter)
    International La Raza Gringo
    Sr. President BLM, (BLT, too)
    Freedom Road Socialistical Organization (FRSO)
    Black Alliance for Just Socialist Immigration (BAJSI)
    NDWA, SOUL, RTTC, POWER, NAACCP, NAASCP
    NAAHP, LBGTQ.E.I.E.I.O.
    Animals Are People, Too
    CLANSPEOPLE for Hillary

  17. EYESOPEN says

    Sep 8, 2016 at 9:47 pm

    “Khalimov, a father of eight, became radicalized fairly recently.”

    Sure. And I’m the tooth fairy.

FacebookYoutubeTwitterLog in

Subscribe to the Jihad Watch Daily Digest

You will receive a daily mailing containing links to the stories posted at Jihad Watch in the last 24 hours.
Enter your email address to subscribe.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!
If you are forwarding to a friend, please remove the unsubscribe buttons first, as they my accidentally click it.

Subscribe to all Jihad Watch posts

You will receive immediate notification.
Enter your email address to subscribe.
Note: This may be up to 15 emails a day.

Donate to JihadWatch
FrontPage Mag

Search Site

Translate

The Team

Robert Spencer in FrontPageMag
Robert Spencer in PJ Media

Articles at Jihad Watch by
Robert Spencer
Hugh Fitzgerald
Christine Douglass-Williams
Andrew Harrod
Jamie Glazov
Daniel Greenfield

Contact Us

Terror Attacks Since 9/11

Archives

  • 2020
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2019
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2018
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2017
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2016
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2015
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2014
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2013
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2012
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2011
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2010
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2009
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2008
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2007
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2006
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2005
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2004
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • September
    • August
    • July
    • June
    • May
    • April
    • March
    • February
    • January
  • 2003
    • December
    • November
    • October
    • March

All Categories

You Might Like

Learn more about RevenueStripe...

Recent Comments

  • ELI on Uighur leader: ‘We’re actually quite worried’ about what Biden might let China get away with
  • revereridesagain on Erdogan: ‘Turks must defend the rights of Jerusalem, even with their lives’ for ‘the honor of the Islamic nation’
  • James Lincoln on Erdogan: ‘Turks must defend the rights of Jerusalem, even with their lives’ for ‘the honor of the Islamic nation’
  • Carol on Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France and UAE conduct joint military exercises amid rising Turkish threat
  • James Lincoln on EU Parliament members call for firing of border agency director for preventing illegal migrants from entering Europe

Popular Categories

dhimmitude Sharia Jihad in the U.S ISIS / Islamic State / ISIL Iran Free Speech

Robert Spencer FaceBook Page

Robert Spencer Twitter

Robert Spencer twitter

Robert Spencer YouTube Channel

Books by Robert Spencer

Jihad Watch® is a registered trademark of Robert Spencer in the United States and/or other countries - Site Developed and Managed by Free Speech Defense

Content copyright Jihad Watch, Jihad Watch claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to their respective owners. If there is an image appearing on this blog that belongs to you and you do not wish for it appear on this site, please E-mail with a link to said image and it will be promptly removed.

Our mailing address is: David Horowitz Freedom Center, P.O. Box 55089, Sherman Oaks, CA 91499-1964

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.