Indonesia Scrambles to Confirm ISIS Commander’s Debut in the Graveyard
When a handful of online chatter suggests that a top Indonesian ISIS rank‑up had met an untimely exit in a U.S. air raid over eastern Syria, Jakarta’s counter‑terrorists are on the case—and they’re not taking a laugh at it.
What the Buzz Says
- The chatter—coming straight from IS tongue‑mouths online—claims Bahrumsyah, an Indonesian, fell after a U.S. strike hit Hajin, just north of Abu Kamal, last Tuesday.
- Indonesia’s embassy in Syria has checked the details, but no confirmation has rung in yet, says Arrmanatha Nasir, the foreign‑ministry spokesman.
- Some senior, unnamed Indonesian c‑terror officers are treating the story with the seriousness of a missing child report.
Why It Matters
Our c‑terror chief quietly told Reuters that if the killing is real, it could be the spark that fans a wave of retaliation across the archipelago. “It’s a motivation for reprisal attacks in Indonesia,” the officer said.
Meanwhile, a Pentagon spokesperson, Eric Pahon, confirmed the U.S. aircraft were targeting the general area but could not verify Bahrumsyah’s demise.
Bahrumsyah’s Profile: The Man, the Myth, the Menace
- After leading Katibah Nusantara—an over‑100‑member army of Southeast Asians—Bahrumsyah was a stick‑ler for the money that kept ISIS breathing in Marawi, Philippines.
- An alleged IS communiqué, supposedly from Abu Nuh, noted that the man was attending a leadership meet when a bomb (I‑specifically a vehicle‑borne improvised explosive device) exploded, wiping out an IS HQ.
- Followers shared tributes that included tears and emojis—proof that even a hardened extremist can become a hero in the eyes of his cohort.
Councilors on the Issue
Singaporean analyst Sidney Jones from the Jakarta‑based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict said the fresh reports carried “a much higher degree of credibility.” He noted that Bahrain was believed to be the highest‑ranking Indonesian in static fighting.
If verified, it would be a significant tick‑off for ISIS forces in Southeast Asia, especially as the “caliphate” crumbles and the threat of seasoned fighters coming back from Syria looms.
Does the “Army” of Indonesians Really Exist?
According to Indonesian counter‑terror data that Reuters reviewed:
- Over 600 Indonesians ventured to Syria to join IS, including 166 women and children.
- 482 were sent home by foreign governments who were less than enthusiastic about the idea of an Indonesian ISIS squad.
Jones on the Return Wave
“I don’t expect a flood of people to come back, but some might still try,” Jones cautioned. “The headline‑sticker, ‘how many come back now,’ will probably be low, but a few gutsy souls might as well write in the diary of terror.”
