Inghimasi

Inghimasi are usually well-trained guerrilla fighters[2] who are organized into teams, and infiltrate enemy positions in order to cause as much damage as possible, generally expecting to be killed while doing so.[1] They often wear explosive belts that are to be detonated when the possibility arises that they could be captured, run out of ammunition, or expect to be overwhelmed.[2] Inghimasi fighters usually wear clothing resembling that of the target's forces, and use light weapons.[3] Inghimasi have to agree to a 'no return' policy, and expect to die in combat.[2][4] Unlike normal suicide attack forces, however, an Inghimasi can survive their missions and return to their base.[2][4] The Islamic State gives new recruits the option of becoming an Inghimasi when enlisting, along with the option of operating a SVBIED or being a regular fighter.[4] The word comes from the Arabic word Inghamasa (انغمس) meaning "to plunge" or "become immersed".[4][2]

Arabic media outlets first reported of Inghimasis in 2013 however its use on social media originates to 2011, the origin of the Inghimasi concept is attributed to al-Nusra.[4] As the Inghimasi concept is attributed to al-Nusra founded as the Syrian branch of the Islamic State of Iraq in early 2012 this method of attack became prominent during the Syrian Civil War and eventually the 2014-2017 Iraqi Civil War but the usage of Inghimasi tactics have also been used during the Second Libyan Civil War. Notable uses of Inghimasi operations include the Battle of Al-Tabqa airbase, the Siege of al-Fu'ah and Kafriya, the 2016 Battle of Kirkuk,[5] and various times during the 2012-2016 Battle of Aleppo such as during the Aleppo offensive in October and November 2016.[6]

The Inghimasi method of attack is not unique to the Middle East, and has been used in terrorist attacks outside the region. Al-Shabaab in Somalia is known to employ Inghimasis,[1] and the Islamic State's branch in Afghanistan uses them as well.[2] Furthermore, the individuals involved in the November 2015 Paris attacks operated in a similar fashion to Inghimasi.[4]

• Hudhayfah al-Badri, son of ISIL leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, died in combat during an Inghimasi operation against the Syrian Army and Russian troops in Homs Governorate.[2]
• 2018 As-Suwayda attacks
• A raid by four inghimasi fighters belonging to the Islamic State's West Africa Province against Diffa in Niger on 9 April 2019 during the Chad Basin campaign (2018–2019)[7]
• A Taliban attack upon Forward Operating Base Salerno in Khost on June 2012 was technically an inghimasi.