ISIS’ Worst Nightmare: An Axe-Wielding Badass Known As ‘Angel Of Death’

ISIS is now facing dual challenges in Tikrit, as the Iraqi army and Iranian-backed Shia militias are both fighting to recapture the city. The most frightening single nemesis Islamic State militants face, however, is the notorious Abu-Azrael (“Angel of death” in Arabic). 

Azrael is a legendary commander from the al-Imam Ali brigades, an Iranian proxy group fighting in Iraq. He has become a cult figure, with Iraqi social media users creating tribute Facebook pages to him, and circulating images of Abu-Azrael holding axes, waving swords and abusing the corpses of ISIS fighters.

Abu-Azrael (“Angel of death” in Arabic)

Although his real identity remains unclear, local reports name Abu-Azrael as Ayoub. He worked as a university lecturer before joining the militia. It has also been claimed that he was, at one point, Iraq’s national Taekwondo champion, although with swirling hyperbole, the legend surrounding Abu Azrael is hard to separate from the reality.

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