Mahdi al-Harati
| Mahdi al-Harati | |
|---|---|
 Mahdi Al-Harati in September 2011, after the Battle of Tripoli |
|
| Born | c. 1973 (age 39–40) Tripoli, Libya[1] |
| Allegiance |  National Transitional Council (2011) Syrian National Council (2012) |
| Service/branch | National Liberation Army |
| Rank | Commander/Colonel |
| Commands held | Tripoli Brigade[1] Liwaa al-Umma |
| Conflicts | Libyan civil war Syrian civil war |
Mahdi al-Harati (born c. 1973) is a former co-commander of the Tripoli Brigade during the Libyan civil war.[1] He was also the commander of Liwaa Al-Umma, a militant group fighting against the Syrian government in the Syrian civil war.[2]
Before the Libyan civil war he was an Arabic teacher in Dublin, where he lived with his Irish-born wife and family.[3]
He was described by Volkskrant, a Dutch daily newspaper, as being a face of the Battle of Tripoli and one of the most important rebel commanders of the Libyan civil war.[4] The Sunday Times, a British newspaper, offered a first-hand account of Al-Mahdi's advance on Tripoli and his men's assault on Gaddafi's former residence, Bab Al-Azizia.[5] He was appointed second in command of the newly formed Tripoli Military Council.
On 11 October 2011, Al-Harati resigned as deputy head of the Tripoli Military Council, amid tensions over security in the capital. According to the Irish Times, while Al-Harati's associates in Tripoli assure that the resignation was for "personal reasons", a senior NTC official quoted by CNN said that the resignation was because "differences with the National Transitional Council on the planning of the security of Tripoli". Fathi Al-Wersali, member of the Tripoli Military Council, stated that Al-Harati would continue as commander of the Tripoli brigade.[6]
Following his involvement in the Libyan civil war al-Harati went on a fact-finding mission to Syria where, following discussions with members of the Syrian opposition, he decided to form the militant group Liwaa Al-Umma. After 6 months of leading Liwaa Al-Umma, Al-Harati left the brigade in September of 2012[7] and handed over its command to the Free Syrian Army.[8]
In 2011, the Irish Sunday World reported that Mahdi al-Harati was being paid by the CIA and that €200,000 in €500 notes was found in his home in Dublin.[9]
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Irish Libyans join rebels trying to oust Gadafy". Irish Times. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
- ^ http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issueno=12364&article=698238&feature=
- ^ "Irish Libyan Mahdi al-Harati leads the overthrow of Colonel Gadafy". Irish Central. 29 August 2011. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
- ^ Wie zijn de Tripoli Brigade precies? - De opstand in Libië - VK
- ^ Post (6 January 2011). "The Sunday Times". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 September 2011.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Mary (11 October 2011). "Libyan-Irish commander resigns as deputy head of Tripoli military council". Irish Times. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ http://www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section=4&issueno=12364&article=698238&feature=
- ^ http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2012/0924/1224324323499.html
- ^ http://www.sundayworld.com/columnists/?aid=9335
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