Daesh names American-trained sniper new minister of war

American-trained sniper, Colonel Gulmurod Khalimov has reportedly replaced Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as the 'Ginger Jihadi'

8 September 2016, 8:33am

1 min read

Colonel Gulmurod Khalimov received training by the US when he was the head of Tajikstan’s special police force

Daesh granted the position of minister of war to an American-trained sniper.

According to the Independent, Colonel Gulmurod Khalimov received training by the US when he was the head of Tajikstan’s special police force and has been given a promotion by the militant group.

The 41-year-old replaces Abu Omar al-Shishani, also known as the “Ginger Jihadi”, who was killed in a US airstrike.

Khalimov has been given the name “Tajik”, after his home nation, and reportedly appeared in a Daesh propaganda video where he pledged to carry out attacks on Russia, the US and Tajikstan.

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

Reports said that Khalimov is thought to have been radicalised recently and only defected to Daesh in 2015, when he disappeared while serving as chief of the special police force in Tajikstan.