american-suicide-bomber
For the first time in history, an American citizen carries out a suicide attack in Syrian civil war; linked to Al-Qaeda affiliated group
By Curt Cramer

In an unprecedented move, an American citizen reportedly was responsible for one of four suicide attacks on Syrian government sites in Jabal Al-Arbaa’in in Idlib Province, Syria on Sunday. Under the condition of anonymity U.S anti-terrorism officials told NBC News that they have identified the bomber and refuse to disclose details about him at this time.

Word of the American’s death circulated social media around Syria fast on Tuesday, first surfacing in tweets from the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Nusra front. Al-Nusra is fighting Bashar Al-Assad’s regime as well as most of the other rebel groups. Intel gathered on what is available from Al-Nusra only names the man based on his jihadist moniker, Abu Hurayra Al-Amriki or Abu Hurayra the American.

The tweet below shows a picture of the alleged bombers and what appears to be a suicide vest attached to Abu Hurayra just before the attack. The words loosely translated state the pictured men are the four martyrs responsible for the victory in Idlib.

One of the only other still photos of him shows a much more peaceful man, holding a cat and smiling, and some twitter users attached photos presumably of the bombing that took place.

The incident is believed to be the first suicide bombing by a U.S. citizen in the Syrian Civil War. Three Americans were confirmed to have carried suicide attacks in Somalia on behalf of another al Qaeda linked group, al Shabab, between 2009 and 2011.

U.S. intelligence officials told NBC News Wednesday that they believe dozens of Americans have joined the fighting – most taking the side of the rebels, and also that hundreds of Westerners have most likely taken part in the fighting.

-Curt Cramer (@CurtisRemarc)

May 28, 2014