Abu al-Walid al-Ghamdi (1967-16 April 2004) was a Saudi Arabian leader of the Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan War, Bosnian War, Tajik Civil War, First Chechen War, and Second Chechen War.
Biography[]
Abu al-Walid al-Ghamdi was born in Bahah Province in Saudi Arabia in 1967. Born to the Ghamid Muslim tribe, he felt that it was his duty as a Muslim to fight for the Mujahideen in the Soviet-Afghan War, fighting against the communist Soviet Union's invasion. In the 1990s he also fought for the Bosniak Muslim mujahideen in the Bosnian War, and traveled to Central Asia to help several Muslim separatist movements.
In the later 1990s, al-Walid became acquainted with the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, a nationalist movement that sought to gain independence from Russia. al-Walid gave his services to Ibn al-Khattab, and succeeded him upon his death in 2002.
Death[]
Two years later, Sulim Yamadayev's Special Battalion Vostok of Chechen troops loyal to Russia attempted to assassinate him. He was on tour of Chechen regiments to task them with operations and logistical plans, but in Tsa-Vedeno his entourage came under bombardment from Russian forces and he was shot dead by a sniper, and later beheaded.