Inghimasi

Inghimasi (Arabic: انغماسي‎, "become immersed"), also called shahid (Arabic: شهيد‎, "martyr") and istishhadi (Arabic: إستشهادي‎, "martyrdom seeker"),[1] are forlorn hope or suicide attack shock troops utilized by several jihadist Sunni Islamist militant groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), al-Qaeda, Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhat al-Nusra), Boko Haram, and al-Shabaab.

Inghimasi often wear explosive belts (example pictured) alongside regular weapons in order to inflict as much damage as possible on their enemies.

Etymology

The word comes from the Arabic word Inghamasa (انغمس) meaning "to plunge" or "become immersed".[2][3]

Definition

Inghimasi are usually well-trained guerrilla fighters[3] who are organized into teams, and infiltrate enemy positions in order to cause as much damage as possible, generally expecting to be killed while doing so.[1] They often wear explosive belts that are to be detonated when the possibility arises that they could be captured, run out of ammunition, or expect to be overwhelmed.[3] Inghimasi fighters usually wear garbs and clothing resembling that of the target's forces to confuse the enemy's ranks, and use light weapons with the goal of inflicting the maximum amount of damage possible.[4] Inghimasi have to agree to a 'no return' policy, and expect to die in combat.[3][2] Unlike normal suicide attack forces, however, an Inghimasi can survive their missions and will return to their base until being assigned the next operation.[3][2] ISIL gives new recruits the option of becoming an Inghimasi when enlisting along with the option of operating a SVBIED or being a regular fighter.[2]

History

Arabic media outlets first reported of Inghimasis in 2013 however its use on social media originates to 2011, the origin of the Inghimasi concept is attributed to al-Nusra.[2] As the Inghimasi concept is attributed to al-Nusra founded as the Syrian branch of the Islamic State of Iraq in early 2012 this method of attack became prominent during the Syrian Civil War and eventually the 2014-2017 Iraqi Civil War but the usage of Inghimasi tactics have also been used during the Second Libyan Civil War. Notable uses of Inghimasi operations include the Battle of Al-Tabqa airbase, the Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya, the 2016 Battle of Kirkuk,[5] and various times during the 2012-2016 Battle of Aleppo such as during the Aleppo offensive in October and November 2016.[6]

The Inghimasi method of attack is not unique to the Middle East, and has been used in terrorist attacks outside the region. Al-Shabaab in Somalia is known to employ Inghimasis,[1] and the Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan uses them as well.[3] Furthermore, the individuals involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks operated in a similar fashion to Inghimasi.[2]

Notable Inghimasi members and operations
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References
  1. Anzalone (2018), p. 13.
  2. "Inghimasi – The Secret ISIS Tactic Designed for the Digital Age - bellingcat". 1 December 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  3. Thomas Joscelyn (3 July 2018). "Baghdadi's son killed fighting Syrian and Russian forces, Islamic State says". Long War Journal. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  4. Studies, Middle East, politics, GCC, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nuclear deal, Yemen, Trump, MENA, Turkey, Gulf Crisis, Qatar,Future for Advanced Research and. "Inghimasi Fighters: Terrorist Organizations Return to Previous Modus Operandi". Future Center. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  5. Mojon, Jean-Marc (22 October 2016). "Kirkuk raid offers glimpse of post-caliphate IS: analysts". Yahoo! News. AFP.
  6. "Jihadists and other rebels launch new offensive in Aleppo". FDD's Long War Journal. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  7. Fergus Kelly (10 April 2019). "Niger gendarmes killed and hostages taken in latest Islamic State attack in Diffa". Defense Post. Retrieved 19 April 2019.

Works cited
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