Iraqi security forces capture ISIS finance chief: Here's what we know

Sami Jasim, ISIS finance chief on Monday was captured by Iraq’s security forces. The arrested is a senior member of the Islamic State and was in charge of maintaining the terrorist group’s finances. Here’s what we know so far.

Mustafa al-Kadhimi, Iraq’s Prime Minister on Monday announced that they captured a senior member of the Islamic State (IS). The operation is called“one of the most difficult” cross-border intelligence operations taken up by the Iraqi security forces (ISF). The captured is also a close associate of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the founder of the terrorist group. However, he did not reveal any other details of the operation.

“While our ISF heroes focused on securing the elections, their INIS [Iraqi national intelligence services] colleagues were conducting a complex external operation to capture Sami Jasim, who was in charge of Daesh finance, and a deputy of Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi. Long live Iraq, and our brave heroes,” tweeted Mustafa al-Kadhimi. In October 2019, the US Special Forces were close to capturing Jasim and al-Baghdadi. However, al-Baghdadi the self-appointed ‘caliph’ of the IS blew himself up.

Sami Jasim was in charge of the notorious terrorist group’s finances. Additionally, he was also a deputy for al-Baghdadi. Jasmi is also wanted by the US and has a bounty of $5 million. The reward is valid for a lead that results in his capture. “Sami Jasim Muhammad al-Jaburi, also known as Hajji Hamid, is a senior leader of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). And a legacy member of ISIS's predecessor organization, al-Qa'ida in Iraq (AQI). Muhammad al-Jaburi has been instrumental in managing finances for ISIS's terrorist operations,” reads his bio in the US State Department's Rewards for Justice site.

According to reports from Al Jazeera, Iraq’s government“considers this a great achievement as he (Sami Jasim) was responsible for a lot of operations in Iraq and Syria”. The Associated Press quotes an unnamed Iraqui intelligence official that Jasim alias Hajji Hamid was detained in a foreign country before he was taken to Iraq. Additionally, another report quotes an Iraqui military source stating that Jasmi was captured in Turkey. However, there was no confirmation from the officials of both nations.