Alshabaab Confirms Drone Strike Killed Lebanese al Qaeda Member in Somalia

By Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar

Alshabaab, the Somali militant group, just issued the following press release, confirming the death of Bilaal Al-Barjawi, a native of Lebanon also known as Abu Hafsa.

Bilaal Al-Barjawi was born in Lebanon, but grew up in West London, England. In 2006, he went to Somalia to fight against the warlords in Mogadishu.

For Immediate Release
A Drone Strike Pronounces a Martyr
Mogadishu (21/01/2012) - At around 1400 hours Saturday three missiles fired from an unmanned aerial vehicle targeted a car driven by one of the Mujahideen in the outskirts of Mogadishu.

Brother Bilaal Al-Barjawi, a native of Lebanon also known as Abu Hafsa, attained Martyrdom as a result of the strikes as Allah had ordained. Though the origin of the drone is not yet confirmed, the immutable facts remain unambiguously clear; the Martyrdom of Abu Hafsa, much like the Martyrdom of many other Mujahideen before him, shall not hinder the progress of Jihad; rather it is the blood of such Martyrs that irrigates the path of Jihad and provides a renewed impetus to the determination of the Mujahideen.

Abu Hafsa grew up in West London and embarked on the caravan of Jihad to protect the honour of Islam after arriving in Somalia in early 2006. Renouncing the vanities of life in the west, a life that he felt was characterised by unbridled hedonism and decadence, Abu Hafsa was among the first batch of Mujahideen to grace the Land of Two Migarations with their presence and took on a distinguished role in the fight against the warlords that terrorized the city of Mogadishu at the time.

Throughout his stay in Somalia, Abu Hafsa participated in most of the major battles and was known for his gallantry and steadfastness in the face of the crusaders and their apostate allies. Marching forth along the path of trials and tribulation, our brother's devotion to Jihad was unmatched and his resolve unshakable.

With a burning passion for Martyrdom in the cause of Allah, Abu Hafsa's motto the supremacy of Allahs Word and liberation of Muslims from the throes of humiliation remained powerfully embedded in his heart until his last breath.

Martyrdom is an honour that adorns the face of a man killed whilst in pursuit of such a noble objective as Islam. So Rejoice, O Ummah of Muhammad, for such are the examples of the sons bred in your midst. Rejoice and emulate the spirit of your Martyrs, for such are the noble men who sacrificed their lives for the protection of your dignity.

We ask Allah to accept our brother as a Matryr in His cause and grant him the elevated levels of Jannah that he persistently strived for.

Press Office
HSM.press@yahoo.com
Harakat Al-Shabaab Al Mujahideen

Shafi'i Mohyaddin Abokar is the NewsBlaze Somalia reporter. Contact him through NewsBlaze.