Wikipedia

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
mNo edit summary
→Death: Since he was rumored dead prior
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
 
Line 1:
{{Short description|6th Vice president of Iraq}}
<div style="float:right;width:151px;margin-left:1em;margin-right:1em">
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
[[image:izzat_ibrahim.jpg|Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri]]</div>
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[Field Marshal]]
| name = Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
| native_name = {{Nobold|{{lang|ar|عزت إبراهيم الدوري}}}}
| native_name_lang = ar
| image = File:Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri portrait.png
| alt = Portrait of Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri
| caption =
| office1 = [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)#Secretaries General|Secretary General of the National Command]] of the [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party]]
| term_start1 = 30 December 2006
| term_end1 = 25 October 2020
| predecessor1 = [[Saddam Hussein]]
| successor1 = [[Salah Al-Mukhtar]]<ref name="арабы">[https://vk.com/wall-153203112_39299 Преемником Иззата Ибрагима ад-Дури на посту Генерального секретаря партии «Баас» стал заслуженный дипломат Саддама Хусейна] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807062627/https://vk.com/wall-153203112_39299 |date=7 August 2021 }} // Голос Арабов, 18 лістапада 2020 (суполка ў «[[VKontakte|УКантакце]]»)</ref>
| office2 = [[Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Regional Secretary]] of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Iraqi Ba'ath Party]]
| predecessor2 = [[Saddam Hussein]]
| successor2 = Unknown (most likely [[Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed]])
| term_start2 = 3 January 2007
| term_end2 = 25 October 2020
| office3 = Deputy Secretary of the [[Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Regional Command]] of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Iraqi Regional Branch]]
| predecessor3 = [[Taha Yassin Ramadan]]
| successor3 = Unknown
| term_start3 = September 1991
| term_end3 = 3 January 2007
| order4 = [[Vice President of Iraq]]
| term_start4 = 16 July 1979
| term_end4 = 9 April 2003
| alongside4 = Taha Yassin Ramadan (after 1991)
| president4 = [[Saddam Hussein]]
| predecessor4 = [[Taha Muhie-eldin Marouf]] and Saddam Hussein
| successor4 = [[Taha Yassin Ramadan]]
| order5 = Vice Chairman of the [[Revolutionary Command Council (Iraq)|Revolutionary Command Council]]
| term_start5 = 16 July 1979
| term_end5 = 9 April 2003
| president5 = [[Saddam Hussein]]
| predecessor5 = Saddam Hussein
| successor5 = Post abolished
| order6 = Member of the [[Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Regional Command]] of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Iraqi Regional Branch]]
| term_start6 = October 1966
| term_end6 = 9 April 2003
| party = [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Iraqi Ba'ath]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|07|01|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Ad-Dawr]], [[Saladin Governorate|Saladin]], [[Kingdom of Iraq]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|10|25|1942|07|01|df=y}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Iraqi
| children = {{hlist|Ahmed|Ibrahim|Ali|Suleiman|Hamd|Yusef|Khaled|Mustafa|Abbas|Omar|Hawazin|Abla|Amra}}
| spouse = Jawhar Majid Khalil and four other wives
| nickname = Ghost
| allegiance = {{flagdeco|Iraq|1959}}{{flag icon|Iraq|1963}} [[Iraqi Republic (1958-1968)|Iraqi Republic]] (1962–1968)<br>{{Flagicon|Ba'athist Iraq}} [[Ba'athist Iraq]]<br>(1968–2003)<br>{{Flagdeco|Iraq|1991}} [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order|Naqshbandi Army]]
| branch = {{army|Iraq}}
| serviceyears = 1962–2003
| rank = [[File:IraqArmyRankInsignia-1.png|25px|alt=Iraqi field marshal]] [[Field marshal]]
| unit = Political Guidance Directorate
| commands = [[2nd Division (Iraq)|2nd Infantry Division]]<br><small>(1977–1981)</small>
| battles = {{tree list}}
* '''[[First Iraqi-Kurdish War]]'''
* '''[[Iran–Iraq War]]'''
** [[Al-Anfal Campaign]]
* '''[[Gulf War]]'''
** [[Battle of Khafji]]
* '''[[1991 uprisings in Iraq]]'''
* '''[[Iraq War]]'''
** [[Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011)]]
** [[Iraqi civil war (2006–2008)]]
* '''[[Iraqi insurgency (2011–2013)]]'''
** [[2013 Hawija clashes]]
* '''[[War in Iraq (2013-17)]]'''
** [[Anbar campaign (2013–2014)]]
** [[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|Northern Iraq offensive]]
** [[Salahuddin campaign]]
*** [[First Battle of Tikrit]]
{{tree list/end}}
}}
'''Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri''' ({{langx|ar|عزت إبراهيم الدوري|ʿIzzat Ibrāhīm ad-Dūrī}}; 1 July 1942 – 25 October 2020) was an [[Iraqis|Iraqi]] politician, [[military officer]] and [[field marshal]]. He served as Vice Chairman of the [[Revolutionary Command Council (Iraq)|Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council]] until the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]] by the United States and was regarded as the closest advisor and deputy under President [[Saddam Hussein]]. He led the Iraqi militant group [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order|Naqshbandi Army]].<ref name="USAToday">{{cite news |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-03-27-saddam-deputy_x.htm |title=Saddam's No. 2 seeks help for insurgency |work=USA Today |date=27 March 2006 |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-date=10 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710054128/http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-03-27-saddam-deputy_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Dougherty">{{cite book |last1=Dougherty |first1=Beth K. |title=Historical Dictionary of Iraq |date=15 June 2019 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1-5381-2005-7 |pages=219–220 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d-mUDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>
 
Al-Douri was the most high-profile [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Ba'athist]] official to successfully evade capture after the invasion of Iraq, and was the "king of clubs" in the infamous [[Most-wanted Iraqi playing cards|U.S. deck of most-wanted Iraqi playing cards]]. Al-Douri continued to lead elements of the Iraqi resistance such as the Naqshbandi Army against the then-occupation forces and waged an insurgency against the current regime in Baghdad. Following the execution of [[Saddam Hussein]] on 30 December 2006, al-Douri was confirmed as the new leader of the banned [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Iraqi Ba'ath Party]] on 3 January 2007.<ref name="Saddam aide is new Baath leader">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6226977.stm "Saddam aide is new Ba'ath leader"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116202139/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6226977.stm |date=16 January 2007 }}, [[BBC News]], 3 January 2007.</ref>
'''Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri''' (Born [[July 1]], [[1942]]) was a military commander under the [[Iraq]] [[Saddam Hussein]] regime until [[2003]], and was vice-president of the ''Revolutionary Command Council''.
 
In April 2015, the Shiite militant organization [[Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq]] claimed they had killed al-Douri and his nine bodyguards during a military operation near the Al-Alaas oil fields in Hemreen east of Tikrit.<ref name="Izzat killed">{{cite news |date=17 April 2015 |title=Top Saddam aide Izzat al-Douri reportedly killed |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/former-saddam-deputy-izzat-al-douri-killed-reportedly-iraq-after-evading-capture-1886458?rel=latest1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713210032/http://www.ibtimes.com/former-saddam-deputy-izzat-al-douri-killed-reportedly-iraq-after-evading-capture-1886458?rel=latest1 |archive-date=13 July 2018 |access-date=17 April 2015 |newspaper=IBTimes}}</ref><ref name="skypres">{{cite web |date=17 April 2015 |title=مقتل عزة الدوري في عملية عسكرية بحمرين شرق تكريت |url=http://www.skypressiq.net/main/ct-menu-item-5/4999-2015-04-17-12-32-21.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417182334/http://www.skypressiq.net/main/ct-menu-item-5/4999-2015-04-17-12-32-21.html |archive-date=17 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015 |publisher=Skypressiq.net |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="erem">{{cite web |title=أنباء عن مقتل عزة الدوري شرق تكريت وبعد ماكو ثلج لأن مات ابو الثلج (صور) |url=http://www.eremnews.com/politics/arab-politics/262011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418063113/http://www.eremnews.com/politics/arab-politics/262011 |archive-date=18 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015 |publisher=Erem News |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="alghad">{{cite web |title=الجبوري يعلن مقتل عزة الدوري بعملية أمنية شرقي تكريت |url=http://alghadpress.com/ar/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=29813 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417172723/http://alghadpress.com/ar/NewsDetails.aspx?NewsID=29813 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015 |publisher=algahadpress.com |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="sotal">{{cite web |title=العصائب تتبنى عملية قتل عزة الدوري وتؤكد أن الجثة في طريقها لبغداد |url=http://www.sotaliraq.com/mobile-news.php?id=197258 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150417235442/http://www.sotaliraq.com/mobile-news.php?id=197258 |archive-date=17 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015 |publisher=sotaliraq.com |language=ar}}</ref> The group further alleged that his body had been transported to Baghdad to confirm its identity on 17 April 2015.<ref name="auto">{{cite news |date=17 April 2015 |title=Saddam Hussein's former top aide killed in Iraq military operation |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/saddam-husseins-former-top-aide-killed-in-iraq-military-operation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418070847/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/17/saddam-hussein-former-top-aide-killed-in-iraq-military-operation/?intcmp=trending |archive-date=18 April 2015 |access-date=17 April 2015 |publisher=[[Fox News]]}}</ref> Though the story was carried by the [[BBC]], they also noted that the Iraqi Ba'ath party denied that al-Douri had died,<ref name="notcom">{{cite news|title=Saddam aide Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri 'killed' in Iraq|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32347036|work=BBC News|date=17 April 2015|access-date=21 June 2018|archive-date=29 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129041006/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-32347036|url-status=live}}</ref> while a Kurdish news source reported that Iraq did not have al-Douri's DNA to confirm his death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250420153|title=Official: Iraq lacks DNA to identify body of Izzat Douri|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182554/http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250420153|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Douri subsequently appeared in videos talking about events that took place after his supposed death.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/080420181|title=Saddam's 'king of clubs' reappears on Baath anniversary|website=Rudaw|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-date=26 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926122202/http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/080420181|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 October 2020, news of his death was again carried by both local and international media, this time based on an announcement made a day earlier by the Iraqi Ba'ath Party, and a statement by [[Raghad Hussein]], the daughter of [[Saddam Hussein]].<ref name="auto4">{{Cite web|url=https://almajd.net/2020/10/26/%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D8%AD%D8%B2%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AB-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82-%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%AC%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B9/|title=قيادة حزب البعث بالعراق: ترجل اليوم من على صهوة جواده فارس البعث والمقاومة العراقية القائد الهمام عزة إبراهيم|date=26 October 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://thearabweekly.com/saddams-former-right-hand-man-izzat-al-douri-dies-0 |title=Saddam's former right-hand man Izzat al-Douri dies |website=The Arab Weekly |date=26 October 2020 |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029162450/https://thearabweekly.com/saddams-former-right-hand-man-izzat-al-douri-dies-0 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-hussein-right-hand-man-dies-at-78 |title=Iraq: Saddam Hussein's right-hand man dies after years as fugitive |website=The Guardian |date=26 October 2020 |access-date=26 October 2020 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026194604/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/26/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-hussein-right-hand-man-dies-at-78 |url-status=live }}</ref>
He is the King of Clubs in the [[most-wanted Iraqi playing cards]]. After the capture of [[Saddam Hussein]] he is now the most wanted man in Iraq. His daughter was briefly married to [[Saddam Hussein]]'s son [[Uday Hussein]].
 
==Biography==
He survived an assassination attempt in [[Karbala]] in 1998. In [[Austria]] war crimes have been charged against him.
===Early life===
Born in 1942, al-Douri was born in [[Ad-Dawr]], near the Iraqi town of [[Tikrit]], to Ibrahim Khalil al-Douri, a farmer, and Hamdah Salim al-Douri.<ref>{{cite book |date=1984 |title=Who's who in the Arab World |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KGZmAAAAMAAJ&q=izzat+Ibrahim+al-Douri+born |publisher=Publitec Editions |page=676 |edition=Snippet view |isbn=978-2-9031-8802-3 |access-date=12 November 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807062651/https://books.google.com/books?id=KGZmAAAAMAAJ&q=izzat+Ibrahim+al-Douri+born |url-status=live }}</ref> His family belonged to the [[Sunni Muslim]] Al-Shuwaikhat clan of the [[Jubur|Jabour]] tribe. Nicknamed "the Iceman" for his humble origins selling blocks of ice, he became involved in revolutionary politics in his late teenage years, despite having had only a primary school education.<ref name=Joffe>{{cite news |last1=Joffe |first1=Lawrence |title=Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/29/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-obituary |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=29 October 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029174629/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/oct/29/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-obituary |url-status=live }}</ref> He befriended [[Saddam Hussein]] in 1963, then they both served in the early intelligence apparatus of the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region|Ba'ath Party]] and participated in what would be known as the [[17 July Revolution]] in 1968.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis|title=Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: Is Saddam Hussein's Pal Key to Stopping ISIS?|author=Michael Knights|magazine=The New Republic|date=24 June 2014|access-date=26 December 2014|archive-date=28 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328011019/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=King of Clubs Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: Saddam's ally and enforcer|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32349384|publisher=BBC|date=17 April 2015|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-date=19 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419205837/http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-32349384|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|title=Iraqi audio recording shows Saddam Hussein's deputy may still be alive|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/16/iraqi-audio-recording-shows-saddam-husseins-deputy-may-still-be-alive|website=The Guardian|date=16 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|archive-date=14 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114024840/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/16/iraqi-audio-recording-shows-saddam-husseins-deputy-may-still-be-alive|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
===During the Ba'athist government===
''This article is a [[Wikipedia:The perfect stub article|stub]]. You can help Wikipedia by [[Wikipedia:Find or fix a stub|fixing it]].''
Al-Douri was a senior member of the Ba'athist government under [[Saddam Hussein]]. This was due to the fact that both al-Douri and Saddam came from the same Tikriti tribal background. When the Ba'athists seized power in 1968, he was made interior minister where he oversaw efforts to sideline political rivals to the Ba'ath Party, mainly the [[Iraqi Communist Party]].<ref name="Izzat al-Douri: Last survivor of Saddam Hussein's inner circle who allied with Islamic State">{{cite web|title=Izzat al-Douri: Last survivor of Saddam Hussein's inner circle who allied with Islamic State|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11545988/Izzat-al-Douri-Last-survivor-of-Saddam-Husseins-inner-circle-who-allied-with-Islamic-State.html|date=17 April 2015|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209173155/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/11545988/Izzat-al-Douri-Last-survivor-of-Saddam-Husseins-inner-circle-who-allied-with-Islamic-State.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Douri became the vice chairman of the [[Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council]] prior to 2003, giving him unprecedented amounts of power and influence within the Iraqi political sphere.<ref name="USAToday"/><ref name="Dougherty"/>
 
As vice chairman of the [[Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council|Revolutionary Command Council]], al-Douri was involved in the wars against Iran and Kuwait. During the 1988–1989 [[Al-Anfal Campaign]], al-Douri was said to have ordered [[Ali Hassan al-Majid]] (aka 'Chemical Ali') to use Mustard and Sarin nerve gas on Kurdish fighters in [[Halabja chemical attack|Halabja]].<ref>{{cite web|title=An Intelligence Vet Explains ISIS, Yemen, and "the Dick Cheney of Iraq" |url=http://phasezero.gawker.com/an-intelligence-vet-explains-isis-yemen-and-the-dick-1699407909 |date=22 April 2015 |access-date=3 January 2016 |publisher=Gawker |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105025659/http://phasezero.gawker.com/an-intelligence-vet-explains-isis-yemen-and-the-dick-1699407909 |archive-date= 5 January 2016 }}</ref> He was complicit in the invasion of Saudi Arabia and [[Battle of Khafji|the attack on the town of Khafji]] in January 1991.<ref>{{cite book |last1=McNabb |first1=James Brian |title=A Military History of the Modern Middle East |date=9 March 2017 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-4408-2964-2 |page=259 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rFDEEAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> During the [[1991 uprisings in Iraq]], he was involved in the suppression of the revolt led by the Iraqi marsh Arabs.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|title=An Intelligence Vet Explains ISIS, Yemen, and "the Dick Cheney of Iraq" |url=http://phasezero.gawker.com/an-intelligence-vet-explains-isis-yemen-and-the-dick-1699407909 |date=22 April 2015 |access-date=3 January 2016 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105025659/http://phasezero.gawker.com/an-intelligence-vet-explains-isis-yemen-and-the-dick-1699407909 |archive-date= 5 January 2016 }}</ref> When the Kurds rebelled again in 1991, al-Douri warned them "If you have forgotten Halabja, I would like to remind you that we are ready to repeat the operation."<ref name="Izzat al-Douri: Last survivor of Saddam Hussein's inner circle who allied with Islamic State"/>
 
In 1993, al-Douri was involved in the state-sponsored [[Faith campaign|Return to Faith Campaign]] ''(al-Hamlah al-Imaniyyah)'', which sought to encourage devotion to Islam in Iraqi social life. This saw aspects of Islam fused into the Iraqi media, education system and judicial system.<ref name="Jordan">{{cite journal |last1=Jordan |first1=David |title="So Let Today Be All the Arabs Muḥammad": The Prophet in the Discourse of the Iraqi Baʿth Party |journal=The Presence of the Prophet in Early Modern and Contemporary Islam |date=10 November 2021 |volume=2 |pages=323–345 |url=https://brill.com/display/book/edcoll/9789004466753/BP000022.xml?language=en |access-date=10 September 2023 |publisher=Brill |doi=10.1163/9789004466753_014 |s2cid=244288193 |language=en|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
 
In October 1998, al-Douri escaped an assassination attempt when visiting [[Karbala]].<ref name="Joffe" /><ref>{{cite book |title=The Middle East and North Africa 2004 |date=30 October 2003 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-1-85743-184-1 |page=466 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pP315Mw3S9EC |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:خضر عبد العزيز الدوري و عزة الدوري و بعض اهم القادة العراقيين حفظهم الله 2014-02-20 22-36.jpg|left|thumb|Al-Douri with party members at Baghdad, 2000]]
Following the [[October 2000 events]], Arab leaders including al-Douri gathered in Cairo condemning Israel's reaction to the protests. In response to the Palestinian protests, Al-Douri was said to have remarked "The Jews will be taught a lesson."<ref>{{cite book|title=Prisoners: A Muslim and a Jew across the Middle East|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3rqcqRxV9jMC&q=izzat+ibrahim+al+douri+jews&pg=PT276|publisher=Knopf Doubleday|author=Jeffrey Goldberg|date=2006|access-date=3 March 2016|isbn=9780307265975|archive-date=7 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807062624/https://books.google.com/books?id=3rqcqRxV9jMC&q=izzat+ibrahim+al+douri+jews&pg=PT276|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 5 March 2003, during an emergency summit of the then [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation]], al-Douri made a heated address where he accused the neighbouring Gulf states of being "traitors" for cooperating with the United States and Israel. He blamed Kuwait for being responsible for Iraq's suffering and scrutinised the United States of America's aggressive stance towards Iraq. These comments sparked the Kuwaiti representative to stand up and protest to which al-Douri responded "Shut up, sit down you small American agent, you monkey!"<ref>{{cite web|title=Tempers flare at Islamic summit|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/05/sprj.irq.conference/|work=CNN|date=5 March 2003|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305095107/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/03/05/sprj.irq.conference/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
Al-Douri, a member of the [[Naqshbandi|Naqshbandi Order]], was able to use his position in the regime to leverage support to the Naqshbandi community within Iraq. This form of patronage would eventfully culminate in the rise of the [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order]] during the Iraqi insurgency, of which al-Douri would play a leading role.<ref>{{cite web|title=ISIS: Inside the Army of Terror|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=llloBwAAQBAJ&q=izzat+ibrahim+al+douri+car+smuggling&pg=PT21|publisher=University of Chicago Press|author=Michael Weissman, Hassan Hassan|date=2015|access-date=7 April 2015}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
===Personal life===
Al-Douri married for the first time in 1968; however, he married five times in total and had 24 children: 13 daughters and 11 sons.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/world/middleeast/izzat-al-douri-saddam-hussein-iraq.html |title=A Top Aide to Saddam Hussein Is Reported Dead |website=The New York Times |date=29 October 2020 |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030124907/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/world/middleeast/izzat-al-douri-saddam-hussein-iraq.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In a sign of loyalty, al-Douri consented to marry his daughter Hawazin to Saddam's eldest son, [[Uday Hussein|Uday]].<ref name=":1" /> Al-Douri's influence with Saddam was so substantial that he could even levy a condition, that the union would not be consummated, and later made a successful petition that his daughter be permitted to divorce Uday.<ref name=":1">{{cite magazine| title = Saddam Hussein's Faithful Friend, the King of Clubs, Might Be the Key to Saving Iraq| url = https://newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis| magazine = New Republic| date = 24 June 2014| access-date = 8 April 2015| archive-date = 28 March 2015| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150328011019/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis| url-status = live}}</ref>
 
Al-Douri is believed to have suffered from [[leukemia]] and was said to have undergone blood transfusions every six months.<ref name=":2" /> In 1999, he visited [[Vienna]], Austria for treatment.<ref name=":2" /> A Vienna city Councillor submitted an request for the arrest and investigation on al-Douri for war crimes, but the government allowed him to leave the country.<ref name=":2">{{cite book |last1=Nowak |first1=Manfred |last2=Birk |first2=Moritz |last3=Monina |first3=Giuliana |title=The United Nations Convention Against Torture and Its Optional Protocol: A Commentary |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-884617-8 |pages=260–261 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RarDDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Joffe"/><ref>{{cite web| title =Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: the King of Clubs is back, and he may yet prove to be Saddam Hussein's trump card| url =https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10065919/Izzat-Ibrahim-al-Douri-the-King-of-Clubs-is-back-and-he-may-yet-prove-to-be-Saddam-Husseins-trump-card.html| date =18 May 2013| access-date =3 January 2016| work =[[The Daily Telegraph]]| archive-date =16 May 2019| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190516021417/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10065919/Izzat-Ibrahim-al-Douri-the-King-of-Clubs-is-back-and-he-may-yet-prove-to-be-Saddam-Husseins-trump-card.html| url-status =live}}</ref> His son was reportedly killed in Tikrit in July 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/dori-s-son-killed-in-tikrit|title=Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri's son reportedly killed in Tikrit – Iraqi News|date=6 July 2014|access-date=1 July 2015|archive-date=1 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701175503/http://www.iraqinews.com/iraq-war/dori-s-son-killed-in-tikrit|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
==Fall of the Ba'ath regime and Iraqi insurgency==
===The 2003 US invasion of Iraq===
[[File:Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri (2003).jpg|thumb|left|Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri in 2003]]
On 20 March 2003, [[United States|U.S.]]-led coalition forces invaded Iraq, leading to the toppling of the regime of President Saddam Hussein on 9 April 2003. Following the fall of [[Baghdad]], al-Douri went into hiding. U.S. officials claimed that he was involved in the subsequent [[Iraqi insurgency (Iraq War)|Iraqi insurgency]] against U.S. forces, directing and funding attacks, as well as brokering an alliance between Ba'athist insurgents and militant Islamists.
 
In November 2003, the U.S.-led coalition issued a US$10 million bounty for any information leading to al-Douri's apprehension by authorities in response to coordinating attacks against [[Multi-National Force – Iraq|Coalition forces]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Dexter Filkins |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/19/international/middleeast/us-offers-10-million-reward-in-hunt-for-top-hussein.html |title=U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward in Hunt for Top Hussein Aide |website=The New York Times |date=19 November 2003 |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-date=28 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228124536/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/19/international/middleeast/us-offers-10-million-reward-in-hunt-for-top-hussein.html |url-status=live }}</ref> One of al-Douri's wives and a daughter were captured in the same month, to be questioned about his whereabouts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/27/world/arrests-in-iraq.html |title=Arrests in Iraq |website=The New York Times |date=27 November 2003 |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030201108/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/27/world/arrests-in-iraq.html?searchResultPosition=4 |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
Al-Douri was made the King of Clubs in the famous [[most-wanted Iraqi playing cards]], making him among the top 8 "most wanted" figures in Saddam Hussein's regime.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq War: Top 8 most wanted|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/17/world/gallery/iraq-most-wanted-playing-cards/index.html|work=CNN|date=17 April 2015|access-date=28 December 2016|archive-date=28 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228124550/http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/17/world/gallery/iraq-most-wanted-playing-cards/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
At the time of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], al-Douri, along with Saddam and Vice President [[Taha Yassin Ramadan]], were among the three surviving plotters who had brought the Ba'ath Party to power in a [[17 July Revolution|coup in 1968]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Izzat Ibrahim al-Duri: Profile |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/11/11/izzat-ibrahim-al-duri-profile-2 |access-date=10 September 2023 |work=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>
 
===The Iraqi insurgency and disappearance ===
In an interview in May 2008, al-Douri detailed his strategy, indicating that "any negotiations with the invaders without it represents a desertion and treason, and is refused by all national, Pan-Arab and Islamic factions of the resistance."<ref name="ccun">{{cite news |url=http://www.ccun.org/Opinion%20Editorials/2008/June/10%20o/Izzat%20Ibrahim%20Al-Douri%20Outlines%20Anti-US%20Strategy,%20Tactics%20of%20Resistance,%20an%20Interview%20Translated%20By%20Nicola%20Nasser.htm |title=Izzat Ibrahim Al-Douri Outlines Anti-US Strategy, Tactics of Resistance, an Interview Translated |first=Nicola |last=Nasser |publisher=Cross-Cultural Understanding |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=1 October 2011 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424191057/http://www.ccun.org/Opinion%20Editorials/2008/June/10%20o/Izzat%20Ibrahim%20Al-Douri%20Outlines%20Anti-US%20Strategy,%20Tactics%20of%20Resistance,%20an%20Interview%20Translated%20By%20Nicola%20Nasser.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> During the interview, al-Douri made the following demands:
 
# An official pronounced recognition of the armed and unarmed national resistance, including all its factions and (political) parties, as the sole legitimate representative of the people of Iraq
# An official declaration of unconditional withdrawal from Iraq by the U.S. leadership
# Declaring null and void all the political and legislative institutions, as well as all the laws and legislation issued by them, since the occupation, with the de-Ba'athfication law in the forefront, and compensating all who were adversely affected by them
# A stop to raids, prosecutions, arrests, killings and displacement
# Release of all [[prisoners of war]] (POWs), prisoners and detainees without exception and compensating all for their physical and psychological damage
# Reinstating the army and the national security forces in service in accordance with their preoccupation laws and regulations, and compensating all who were adversely affected by dissolving them
# A pledge to compensate Iraq for all the material and moral losses it incurred because of the occupation
 
Al-Douri was reportedly the head of the Iraqi resistance group [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order]] as well as the [[Supreme Command for Jihad and Liberation]] based on his longstanding positions of leadership in the [[Naqshbandi]] sect in Iraq.<ref name="WestPointCTCSentinel">{{cite web |url=http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-jrtn-movement-and-iraq%E2%80%99s-next-insurgency |title=The JRTN Movement and Iraq's Next Insurgency |publisher=Combating Terrorism Center at West Point |access-date=22 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826043422/http://www.ctc.usma.edu/posts/the-jrtn-movement-and-iraq%E2%80%99s-next-insurgency |archive-date=26 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
====Whereabouts====
[[File:Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri.jpg|thumb|Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri depicted as the King of Clubs in the US Department of Defense's "Most-wanted" playing cards]]
Sometime after the [[Battle of Baghdad (2003)|Fall of Baghdad]], al-Douri evaded capture and went into hiding.<ref>[https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24559294.html Iraqis arrest former top aide in Saddam's regime] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524194425/https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/nation-world/world/article24559294.html |date=24 May 2019 }}. ''McClatchy''</ref> There are many different reports on his whereabouts. Several sources close to al-Douri's family reported to [[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] that they had not heard of al-Douri since April 2003 and did not know where he was hiding.<ref>[https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/11/200841010365121405.html Is it a coincidence?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525152657/https://www.aljazeera.com/archive/2005/11/200841010365121405.html |date=25 May 2019 }}. ''Al Jazeera''</ref>
 
According to veteran intelligence consultant [[Malcolm Wrightson Nance|Malcolm Nance]] and a U.S. telegram cable, al-Douri and the [[Revolutionary Command Council (Iraq)|Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council]] were rumoured to have developed deep relations with [[Hafez al-Assad]] and the [[Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region|Syrian Ba'ath party]], despite historical differences between the two Ba'ath factions. Al-Douri urged Saddam to open oil pipelines with Syria, building a financial relationship with the Assad family.<ref name="auto3" /><ref name="US_Cable">[https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09DAMASCUS709_a.html REVENGING AFLAQ (I): FORMER IRAQI BAATHISTS IN SYRIA -- WHO ARE THESE GUYS?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524194427/https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09DAMASCUS709_a.html |date=24 May 2019 }}. ''WikiLeaks''</ref> Nance would also allege that al-Douri fled to Syria after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, where he organised the [[National Command of the Islamic Resistance]] which co-ordinated major combat operations during the Iraqi insurgency.<ref name="auto3"/>
 
The [[RAND Corporation]] reported prior to the [[Operation Red Dawn|capture of Saddam Hussein]], al-Douri served as "Saddam’s point of contact in [[Diyala Governorate]]" and that he had visited Diyala twice to meet with leaders to organize the insurgency inside Iraq.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/DTIC_ADA499655 Occupying Iraq: A History of the Coalition Provisional Authority] pg. 95. ''RAND Corporation''</ref>
 
There were reports from [[al-Hayat]] that al-Douri was allegedly in Mosul visiting his wife, before fleeing to an undisclosed ___location.<ref>[https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2005/6/judgement41.htm Saddam's former deputy Izzat Ibrahim a father at 61] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523222939/https://ekurd.net/mismas/articles/misc2005/6/judgement41.htm |date=23 May 2019 }}. ''EKurd Daily''</ref><ref>[https://www.juancole.com/2005/06/al-duri-leads-baath-birth-of-his.html Al Duri Leads Baath Birth Of His] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525152659/https://www.juancole.com/2005/06/al-duri-leads-baath-birth-of-his.html |date=25 May 2019 }}. ''Informed Comment''</ref> [[NBC News]] reported that al-Douri was rumoured to be hiding in Syria or elsewhere.<ref>[https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10004587 US continues hunt for Saddam's ex-No. 2] . ''NBC News''</ref>
 
In 2007, Iraqi security forces raided a hideout in Tikrit belonging to al-Douri, the raid was based on "confirmed intelligence" that al-Douri was holding meetings with his aides at the hideout. Al-Douri however was not caught.{{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} In early 2007, Iraqi President [[Jalal Talabani]] claimed al-Douri was not in Syria, but that he was in [[Yemen]], saying that the Iraqi government has had this information for a while and had been tracing al-Douri's movements.<ref>[https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-talabani/iraq-seeks-wanted-saddams-aides-in-syria-idUKOWE85525520070118 Iraq seeks wanted Saddam's aides in Syria] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524235624/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-talabani/iraq-seeks-wanted-saddams-aides-in-syria-idUKOWE85525520070118 |date=24 May 2019 }}. ''Reuters''</ref> A U.S. intelligence source told the [[Long War Journal]], that al-Douri was being sheltered in northern Iraq.<ref>[https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/12/saddam_henchman_esca.php Saddam henchman escapes raid by Iraqi forces] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525223645/https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2007/12/saddam_henchman_esca.php |date=25 May 2019 }}. ''Long War Journal''</ref> Iraqi tribal expert and senior fellow at the [[United States Institute of Peace]], [[Amatzia Baram]], claimed that al-Douri is likely in hiding somewhere between Mosul and the Turkish border.<ref>[https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-most-wanted IRAQ: The Most Wanted] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523222937/https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/iraq-most-wanted |date=23 May 2019 }}. ''Council on Foreign Relations''</ref> Middle East expert [[Juan Cole]] believes that al-Douri is likely in the Mosul area and not Syria.<ref>[https://www.juancole.com/2007/05/note-to-bush-and-edwards-on-how-there.html Note To Bush And Edwards On How There] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525152700/https://www.juancole.com/2007/05/note-to-bush-and-edwards-on-how-there.html |date=25 May 2019 }}. ''Informed Comment''</ref>
 
The U.S. claimed that al-Douri resurfaced in Syria in 2008,<ref name="US_Cable"/>{{Better source needed|date=May 2019}} however, ''Al-Mawqif Al-Arabi'', an Egyptian newspaper which interviewed al-Douri that same year, told reporters that he was "on the battlefield" and on a "combat field while weapons were talking", presumably meaning he was still fighting in Iraq.<ref name="ccun"/> The [[Combating Terrorism Center]] reported that al-Douri was still "politically active within Iraq."<ref>[https://ctc.usma.edu/the-jrtn-movement-and-iraqs-next-insurgency/ The JRTN Movement and Iraq’s Next Insurgency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330070631/https://ctc.usma.edu/the-jrtn-movement-and-iraqs-next-insurgency/ |date=30 March 2019 }}. ''CTC Sentinel''</ref> [[The Irish Times]] reported that it was believed that al-Douri was hiding somewhere in Iraq.<ref>[https://www.irishtimes.com/news/iraqi-exiles-plot-fall-of-maliki-from-damascus-1.684562 Iraqi exiles plot fall of Maliki from Damascus] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210213221445/https://www.irishtimes.com/news/iraqi-exiles-plot-fall-of-maliki-from-damascus-1.684562 |date=13 February 2021 }}. ''The Irish Times''</ref> Likewise, [[The Times]] reported that it was believed that al-Douri was hiding around Mosul or Tikrit.<ref>[https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/saddam-husseins-deputy-and-isis-mastermind-al-douri-killed-in-iraq-wgqkhwscl56 Saddam Hussein’s deputy and ‘Isis mastermind’ al Douri ‘killed in Iraq’] . ''The Times''</ref> Other reports claimed that al-Douri was in the Iraqi town of Ad-Dawr and [[Iraqi Kurdistan]].<ref>[https://newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis Saddam Hussein's Faithful Friend, the King of Clubs, Might Be the Key to Saving Iraq Iraqi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150328011019/http://www.newrepublic.com/article/118356/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-saddam-husseins-pal-key-stopping-isis |date=28 March 2015 }}. ''The New Republic''.</ref>
 
[[David Petraeus|General David Petraeus]] who was at the time heading the [[United States Central Command]], told reporters from [[Al Arabiya]] that al-Douri was still residing in [[Syria]] with "complete freedom".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/12/13/94083.html |title=US giving security support to Yemen: Petraeus |publisher=Al Arabiya |date=13 December 2009 |access-date=3 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808051532/http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/12/13/94083.html |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Syrian government denied that al-Douri was residing in Syria. Iraqi Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]] claimed to U.S. officials that a Syrian offered to show him al-Douri's home in Damascus during a visit.<ref>[https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09BAGHDAD847_a.html CG, CDA AND PM DISCUSS FOREIGN VISITS, SECURITY AND DEFENSE COOPERATION] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524224434/https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/09BAGHDAD847_a.html |date=24 May 2019 }}. ''WikiLeaks''</ref> However, Iraqi intelligence sources in 2009 have emphasized that al-Douri was residing in the southern suburbs of Diyala in an [[Islamic State of Iraq]] stronghold.<ref>[https://eng-archive.aawsat.com/theaawsat/news-middle-east/iraq-saddams-aide-al-duri-hiding-in-diyala Iraq: Saddam’s Aide Al-Duri Hiding in Diyala] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524014926/https://eng-archive.aawsat.com/theaawsat/news-middle-east/iraq-saddams-aide-al-duri-hiding-in-diyala |date=24 May 2019 }}. ''Asharq Al-Awsat''</ref>
 
Unconfirmed speculations located al-Douri somewhere in Gulf or the southern Arabian Peninsula,<ref>[http://www.aymennjawad.org/12557/iraq-violence Violence in Iraq] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523194223/http://www.aymennjawad.org/12557/iraq-violence |date=23 May 2019 }}. ''Middle East Review of International Affairs''</ref> or in Qatar,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=9101141223 |title=Fars News Agency :: Iraqi MP: Qatar Shelters Saddam's Vice-President |access-date=18 July 2012 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412141838/http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9101141223 |archive-date=12 April 2012 }}</ref> while other theories claimed that al-Douri had stayed in Iraq permanently since 2003,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/11/04/Last-man-standing-Saddams-longtime-veep/11881288897426/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526022912/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2010/11/04/Last-man-standing-Saddams-longtime-veep/11881288897426/|url-status=dead|title=Last man standing: Saddam&#039;s longtime veep - UPI.com|archivedate=26 May 2019|website=UPI}}</ref> or that he had "a number of safe houses in and around [[Muqdadiya]]."<ref>[http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-iraqs-civil-war-broke-out-in-diyala.html How Iraq’s Civil War Broke Out In Diyala Province Interview With Former Interrogator Richard Buchanan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526022912/http://musingsoniraq.blogspot.com/2014/07/how-iraqs-civil-war-broke-out-in-diyala.html |date=26 May 2019 }}. ''Musings on Iraq''</ref>{{better source needed|date=June 2020}}
 
Despite allegations from U.S. and Iraqi officials that al-Douri was residing in Syria, al-Douri had opposed and even attempted to oust the Syrian-backed Iraqi Ba'athist, [[Mohammed Younis al-Ahmed]], from the party and he had also criticized the Syrian government for being part of an American conspiracy to undermine the Iraqi Ba'ath Party.<ref name="ADOURIAHMED">{{cite web|url=http://www.jamestown.org/fileadmin/JamestownContent/TM_007_3.pdf |title=Reviving the Iraqi Ba'ath: A Profile of General Muhammad Yunis al-Ahmad |publisher=[[Jamestown Foundation]] |date=5 January 2007 |volume=VII |issue=3 |author=Ali, Fadhil |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091014125014/http://www.jamestown.org/fileadmin/JamestownContent/TM_007_3.pdf |archive-date=14 October 2009 }}</ref> Furthermore, analysts have noted that "Douri deeply distrusts working with the Syrians because he distrusts the Iranians, who are strong allies with Syria".<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/middleeast/07syria.html Syria Is Said to Be Strengthening Ties to Opponents of Iraq’s Government] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201015115257/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/07/world/middleeast/07syria.html |date=15 October 2020 }}. ''New York Times''</ref> In an interview on 26 May 2008, al-Douri boasted that his resistance was not supported or incubated by any outside powers.<ref name="ccun"/>
 
Some leaders such as former national security advisor [[Mowaffak al-Rubaie]] and former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki have accused the Assad government of harbouring and supporting Iraqi militants.<ref name="Iraq asked Syria's Assad to stop aiding 'jihadists': Former official">{{cite web|title=Iraq asked Syria's Assad to stop aiding 'jihadists': Former official|url=http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-asked-syrias-assad-not-aid-jihadists-former-official-1553468312#sthash.R54u7MXw.dpuf|date=20 October 2015|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=27 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127125248/http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-asked-syrias-assad-not-aid-jihadists-former-official-1553468312#sthash.R54u7MXw.dpuf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Maliki blames Syria for attacks, Assad denies claim">{{cite web|title=Maliki blames Syria for attacks, Assad denies claim|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20090901-maliki-blames-syria-attacks-assad-denies-claim-|date=4 October 2009|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=28 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160128094743/http://www.france24.com/en/20090901-maliki-blames-syria-attacks-assad-denies-claim-|url-status=live}}</ref> A charge Syria heavily denies and demands be proven with evidence.<ref>[https://www.sbs.com.au/news/farouk-al-sharaa-interview Farouk Al-Sharaa Interview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210807062628/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/farouk-al-sharaa-interview |date=7 August 2021 }}. ''SBS World News''</ref>
 
While U.S. telegram cable claimed by at least October 2009 that al-Douri was no longer part of the "former regime elements" living in Syria,<ref name="US_Cable"/>{{Better source needed|date=May 2019}} U.S. intelligence believed al-Douri operated out of Syria until the start of the [[Syrian civil war]] in 2011, when he may have moved to safe houses across the North-western Iraq province of [[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh]].<ref name="auto2">{{citation|first=Malcolm|last=Nance|author-link=Malcolm Nance|title=The Terrorists of Iraq: Inside the Strategy and Tactics of the Iraq|date=18 December 2014|title-link=The Terrorists of Iraq}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri: the King of Clubs is back, and he may yet prove to be Saddam Hussein's trump card|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10065919/Izzat-Ibrahim-al-Douri-the-King-of-Clubs-is-back-and-he-may-yet-prove-to-be-Saddam-Husseins-trump-card.html|work=Telegraph|date=18 May 2013|access-date=3 January 2016|archive-date=16 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516021417/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iraq/10065919/Izzat-Ibrahim-al-Douri-the-King-of-Clubs-is-back-and-he-may-yet-prove-to-be-Saddam-Husseins-trump-card.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Malcolm Nance, however claims that al-Douri was still in Syria by as late as 2013, before moving to Tikrit in 2014.<ref name="auto3" />
 
===Iraqi insurgency and resurfacing===
On 10 November 2011, a man claiming to be Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri released an audio tape condemning a recent arrest campaign targeting suspected Ba'ath Party members.
 
The first visual evidence of his survival surfaced on 7 April 2012 when a video posted online<ref name="Youtube">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBkj3Cx5MY|title=Al-Douri's full statement on YouTube (arabic)|website=[[YouTube]]|date=8 April 2012 |access-date=9 April 2012|archive-date=27 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527013026/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBkj3Cx5MY|url-status=live}}</ref> showed him giving a speech. In the shots, he is seen wearing an olive Saddam-era military uniform (with the rank of Field Marshal) and glasses, denouncing the Shiite-led government in Baghdad and interference in Iraqi politics by regional [[Shia]] powerhouse [[Iran]]. "Everyone can hear the sounds of danger echoing daily and threatening this country," al-Douri says during the hour-long broadcast. Prime Minister Maliki's personal adviser, Ali al-Moussawi, said the tape had a propaganda function but that he doubted al-Douri was still in Iraq as he required extensive medical care for a number of illnesses.<ref name="Ass. Press">{{Cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHvZTitkDdnRb-xwBTOAG3BEjQEA?docId=4c07f66ed6b4438dbbc5c15685666fb4|title=Iraq: Video appears to show top Saddam deputy}}</ref>
 
On 5 January 2013, a 53-minute video was released on [[YouTube]] in which al-Douri encouraged recent [[2012–2013 Iraqi protests|Sunni protests]] in [[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh]] and [[Al Anbar Governorate|Anbar]] Governorates against Prime Minister [[Nouri al-Maliki]], saying that "the people of Iraq and all its nationalist and Islamic forces support you until the realization of your just demands for the fall of the Safavid-Persian alliance." The message, which showed the Ba'athist leader sitting behind a desk with a small [[Saddam Hussein|Saddam]]-era Iraqi flag on it, was partially broadcast on the [[Al Arabiya]] news channel. In the video, released just before the Iraqi Army Day on 6 January, Douri claimed to be somewhere in Iraq's [[Babil Governorate]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/world/middleeast/baath-party-leader-encourages-sunni-protests-in-iraq.html |title=Baath Leader Urges Sunnis to Protest Iraqi Premier |newspaper=The New York Times |date=5 January 2013 |access-date=19 February 2017 |archive-date=30 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170630140516/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/06/world/middleeast/baath-party-leader-encourages-sunni-protests-in-iraq.html?_r=1& |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-05/201040-fugitive-saddam-era-vp-backs-iraq-demos-in-video.ashx#axzz2H7of3Wlb |title=Fugitive Saddam-era VP backs Iraq demos in video |work=The Daily Star Lebanon |access-date=7 January 2013 |archive-date=6 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106091635/http://dailystar.com.lb/News/Middle-East/2013/Jan-05/201040-fugitive-saddam-era-vp-backs-iraq-demos-in-video.ashx#axzz2H7of3Wlb |url-status=live }}</ref> However, former U.S. intelligence officials believe it was filmed in Damascus, Syria.<ref name="auto3"/> Hours after the tape was released, Iraqi military intelligence arrested Abdul Rahman Mohammed Ibrahim, the nephew of al-Douri, in [[Saladin Governorate]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ninanews.com/english/News_Details.asp?ar95_VQ=GFHEGI |title=Nephew of Izzat Al-Douri arrested |publisher=National Iraq News Agency (NINA) |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006125903/http://www.ninanews.com/english/News_Details.asp?ar95_VQ=GFHEGI |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref>
 
In April 2013, the Iraqi government claimed to be closing in on al-Douri, who they claimed was moving between Tikrit and the towns of Hawija and Dour, which is alleged to be an area of strong support for al-Douri, and also where he is claimed to have owned a villa.<ref>{{cite news |last=al-Salhy |first=Suadad |date=18 April 2013 |title=Iraqi forces hunt Saddam's former deputy |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-politics-idUSBRE93H0BU20130418 |publisher=Reuters |___location=Baghdad |access-date=5 July 2021 |archive-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405210850/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-politics-idUSBRE93H0BU20130418 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2014, al-Douri returned to Tikrit during the [[Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017)|Iraqi Civil War]].<ref name="auto3" />
 
==The fall of Mosul and Iraqi Civil War==
Al-Douri played a role in the [[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)|Northern Iraq Offensive]] as commander of the [[Army of the Men of the Naqshbandi Order|Naqshbandi Army]]. Reports soon surfaced that he had links with the jihadist group [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]], helping them take the city of [[Tikrit]] and coordinating attacks against Iraqi security forces.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/world/middleeast/former-loyalists-of-saddam-hussein-crucial-in-helping-isis.html|title=Former Loyalists of Saddam Hussein Crucial in Helping ISIS|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=19 June 2014 |access-date=16 October 2014|archive-date=28 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328231425/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/19/world/middleeast/former-loyalists-of-saddam-hussein-crucial-in-helping-isis.html?hpw&rref=world&_r=0|url-status=live|last1=Arango |first1=Tim }}</ref> On 13 June, a Twitter account, @wikibaghdadi, claimed a "Meeting between ISIS and Naqshbandi Army near al-Qayara area south of Mosul had taken place with representatives from Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri and [[Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi]]."<ref>{{cite news |title=Someone Is Spilling ISIS's Secrets on Twitter |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/18/someone-is-spilling-isis-s-secrets-on-twitter.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=18 June 2014 |access-date=22 April 2015 |last1=Siegel |first1=Jacob |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709004202/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/18/someone-is-spilling-isis-s-secrets-on-twitter.html |archive-date=9 July 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2014, al-Douri issued an audio recording praising "the heroes and knights of al Qaeda and the Islamic State" forces in attacking Iraqi government positions within [[Saladin Governorate|Saladin]], [[Kirkuk Governorate|Kirkuk]], [[Diyala Governorate|Diyala]], and [[Nineveh Governorate|Nineveh]] Governorates. His connections with Islamist elements in Iraq is said to have emerged as far back as during Saddam's regime.<ref>{{cite news |title=He Served Saddam. He Served ISIS. Now Al Douri May Be Dead. |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/17/he-served-saddam-he-served-isis-now-al-douri-may-be-dead.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |date=17 April 2015 |access-date=22 April 2015 |last1=Dettmer |first1=Jamie |archive-date=23 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423130444/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/17/he-served-saddam-he-served-isis-now-al-douri-may-be-dead.html |url-status=live }}</ref> According to the ''[[Ali Soufan#Post-FBI career|Soufan Group]]'', al-Douri had close ties with senior ISIL officials [[Abu Muslim al-Turkmani]] and [[Abu Ayman al-Iraqi]]. Both men had served in the [[Ba'athist Iraq|Ba'athist regime]] under [[Saddam Hussein]], with al-Turkmani being a Lieutenant colonel and serving in the ''[[Istikhbarat]]'' and [[Special Republican Guard]]. Al-Iraqi had been a Colonel in Iraq's Air Defense Intelligence.<ref name="The Islamic State">{{cite web |title=The Islamic State |url=http://soufangroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TSG-The-Islamic-State-Nov14.pdf |publisher=Soufan Group |date=November 2014 |access-date=23 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713102203/http://soufangroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/TSG-The-Islamic-State-Nov14.pdf |archive-date=13 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 
Al-Douri has been pointed out as one of the main commanders responsible for successful takeover by resistance groups of North Iraq and the city of Mosul in June 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/iraq.html|title=Iraq Militants, Pushing South, Aim at Capital|date=12 June 2014|work=The New York Times|access-date=19 February 2017|archive-date=22 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722015838/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/12/world/middleeast/iraq.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Naqshbandi Army, along with other groups led by former Ba'ath officers, are reported to have assumed an increasingly large role in the governance and administration of occupied cities. Militants were reported to have appointed fellow Ba'ath generals Azhar al-Obeidi and Ahmed Abdul Rashid as the governors of Mosul and Tikrit.<ref>[[Northern Iraq offensive (June 2014)#cite note-74]]</ref> Shortly afterwards, unverified reports emerged that the Ba'ath Party, under al-Douri's leadership, declared war on ISIL in response to the displacement of Christians from Mosul.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.shafaaq.com/index.php/politics/10630-baath-in-iraq-declares-war-on-isis|title=Baath in Iraq declares war on ISIS|access-date=26 December 2014|url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822092007/http://english.shafaaq.com/index.php/politics/10630-baath-in-iraq-declares-war-on-isis|archive-date=22 August 2014}}</ref> Other reports still maintained that there was a limited degree of cooperation between the two groups.<ref>{{cite web|title=Naqshbandi Army Statement &ndash; 7 August: Analysis and Translation|url=http://www.aymennjawad.org/2014/08/naqshbandi-army-statement-7-august-analysis|date=7 August 2014|access-date=16 March 2015|archive-date=23 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323080240/http://www.aymennjawad.org/2014/08/naqshbandi-army-statement-7-august-analysis|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Mellor |first1=Noha |last2=Rinnawi |first2=Khalil |title=Political Islam and Global Media: The boundaries of religious identity |date=10 June 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-26709-6 |page=67 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m7RTDAAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref>
 
===Iraqi Civil War and resurfacing===
In May 2015, an audio recording alleging to be that of al-Douri, criticized both [[Islamic State|IS]] and Iran. He also hailed the [[Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen|Saudi-led alliance]] targeting the [[Houthi movement|Houthi]] militias in Yemen. On IS he stated "We do cross paths ... but what stops us from meeting is that even if we wanted to, they would not accept because they consider the Ba'ath infidels". He claimed that the group was detaining a third of the Ba'ath's command, and then went on to claim the number of IS victims in Iraq "does not equal 1% of those killed by the [[Popular Mobilization Forces|militias]]". On Iran, al-Douri called for the "Iraqis in [[Al Anbar Governorate|Al-Anbar]] and [[Karbala Governorate|Karbala]] to strongly fight the Persian criminal plan, which aims at swallowing Iraq." He stressed that Iran is the main player in Iraq and it is working through the [[Quds Force]].<ref name="theguardian.com"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Al-Douri criticises ISIS, Iran, hails Operation Decisive Storm|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/18670-al-douri-criticises-isis-iran-hails-operation-decisive-storm|website=Middle East Monitor|date=16 May 2015|access-date=17 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007074236/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/news/middle-east/18670-al-douri-criticises-isis-iran-hails-operation-decisive-storm|archive-date=7 October 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
 
In October 2015, it was reported that al-Douri's Naqshbandi Army was involved in secret discussions with the Iraqi government, alongside other insurgent groups, as part of a move to create a new Sunni force to fight IS in Iraq.<ref>{{cite news |last=Neurink |first=Judit |date=5 October 2015 |title=War on Isis: Iraq seeks Sunni militia support for fight against Islamic State |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/war-on-isis-iraq-seeks-sunni-militia-support-for-fight-against-islamic-state-a6680926.html |newspaper=The Independent |___location=Erbil |access-date=1 September 2017 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011172118/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/war-on-isis-iraq-seeks-sunni-militia-support-for-fight-against-islamic-state-a6680926.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
 
On 7 April 2016, he released a video in which he sits at a desk in military uniform, flanked by two bodyguards and reads a statement. He calls on 'mujahideen' in Iraq to fight the [[Private militias in Iraq|Shia militias]] and combat Iranian influence in Iraq under the [[Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition|Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism]] created by Saudi Arabia on 15 December 2015. He said: "We consider everything that is happening in Iraq from Iran, its agents, militias, and its security apparatus, is the responsibility of the United States". He added: "If it [U.S.] did not move to save Iraq and its people from Iran's hegemony, control and occupation, and to stop bloodshed, destruction, burning and the changing demographic, then Iraqi people should resist [the occupation]." He stated that one of the ways to deal with the issue in Yemen was to make Iran and its allies adhere to the Security Council decision on ceasefire.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubxuunGU008&nohtml5=False|title=خطاب القائدالمهيب الركن عزة ابراهيم الدوري بمناسبة الذكرى 69لتأسيس حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي.|last=العراقي الاسطورة 2|date=7 April 2016|via=YouTube|access-date=10 April 2016|archive-date=11 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311000556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubxuunGU008&nohtml5=False|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/04/07/Saddam-s-top-aide-appears-calls-to-line-up-against-Iran.html|title=Saddam's top aide appears, criticizes US on Iran|website=english.alarabiya.net|date=7 April 2016|access-date=20 February 2019|archive-date=24 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624035647/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2016/04/07/Saddam-s-top-aide-appears-calls-to-line-up-against-Iran.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/07/saddams-former-deputy-resurfaces-a-year-after-he-was-killed/|title=Saddam's former deputy resurfaces a year after he was 'killed'|newspaper=Telegraph|date=7 April 2016|last1=Spencer|first1=Richard|access-date=4 April 2018|archive-date=25 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625103602/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/07/saddams-former-deputy-resurfaces-a-year-after-he-was-killed/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-douri-idUSKCN0X42GS|title=Video suggests aide to Iraq's Saddam may still be alive|date=7 April 2017|publisher=Reuters|access-date=1 July 2017|archive-date=13 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013221712/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-douri-idUSKCN0X42GS|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 7 April 2018, al-Douri released a new video commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Baath party and vowing that U.S. President [[Donald Trump]] "will never attack Iran until the Resurrection Day."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=gppSidAV6jU|title=YouTube|website=YouTube|access-date=20 February 2019}}{{Dead link|date=April 2019}}</ref>
 
In an article published by [[NRT News]], an Iraqi politician, Hassan Alawi, claimed to have had information about previous meetings of Al-Douri in the [[Kurdistan Region]] of Iraq, claiming “he never left the homeland”.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Corporation|first=Nalia|title=سياسي عراقي يفجر مفاجأة ويلتقي بـ 'عزت الدوري' داخل العراق ويكشف عن مكانه الحقيقي|url=http://www.nrttv.com/ar/detail3/1534|access-date=2021-08-21|website=nrttv.com}}</ref>
 
===Allegations of death===
In November 2005, Arab media reported that al-Douri died of natural causes, probably in Iraq.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/12/iraq.ewenmacaskill |title=Saddam's former deputy reported dead as Sunnis start to sign up for Iraq poll |website=The Guardian |date=12 November 2005 |access-date=30 October 2020 |archive-date=5 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105000309/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/nov/12/iraq.ewenmacaskill |url-status=live }}</ref> On 17 April 2015, al-Douri allegedly died during a military operation conducted by the Iraqi Army near Al-Alaas oil fields in [[Hamrin Mountains]], east of Tikrit. Iraqi security forces and Shia militias opened fire at a convoy believed to be carrying al-Douri and nine bodyguards, resulting in a 25-minute firefight. General Haider al-Basri, a senior Iraqi commander, announced to state television that the man believed to be al-Douri and his guards were killed.<ref name=skypres/><ref name=erem/><ref name=alghad/><ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq testing body of suspected Saddam VP|url=https://news.yahoo.com/iraq-checks-claims-saddam-deputy-izzat-ibrahim-al-155451649.html|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=17 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2015|archive-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420053738/http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-checks-claims-saddam-deputy-izzat-ibrahim-al-155451649.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Shi'ite militant organization [[Asa'ib Ahl al-Haq]] claimed to have killed him, saying that his body was being transported to Baghdad to confirm its identity.<ref name=Fox>{{cite news|title=Saddam Hussein's former top aide killed in Iraq military operation|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/saddam-husseins-former-top-aide-killed-in-iraq-military-operation/|access-date=17 April 2015|work=Fox News|date=17 April 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418070847/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/17/saddam-hussein-former-top-aide-killed-in-iraq-military-operation/?intcmp=trending|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Iraq's King of Clubs crossed out|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-killed-117079.html?hp=r3_3|work=Politico|date=17 April 2015|access-date=18 April 2015|archive-date=18 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418101549/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-killed-117079.html?hp=r3_3|url-status=live}}</ref> Before delivering the body to Baghdad, [[Popular Mobilization Forces (Iraq)|Shi'ite militias]] did DNA tests on the body and confirmed the results on 19 April.<ref name="reuters">{{cite news|title=Iraqi Shi'ite militia says DNA tests prove Saddam aide dead|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-douri-idUSKBN0NA10T20150419|publisher=Reuters|date=19 April 2015|access-date=5 July 2021|archive-date=19 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190519223755/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-douri-idUSKBN0NA10T20150419|url-status=live}}</ref> The body was delivered to Baghdad on 20 April,<ref>{{cite news|title=Iraqi government received the body of who is thought to be Izzat al-Douri|url=http://www.radiosawa.com/content/iraq-dourri-sadam-hussein/269383.html|agency=Radio Sawa|date=20 April 2015|language=ar|access-date=23 April 2015|archive-date=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423020609/http://www.radiosawa.com/content/iraq-dourri-sadam-hussein/269383.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> with the government starting the DNA tests a day after, on 21 April.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ministry of Health starts the DNA tests on Izzat al-Douri's body|url=http://www.mustaqila.com/news/157357.html|agency=Independent Press Agency|date=21 April 2015|language=ar|access-date=23 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150423034245/http://www.mustaqila.com/news/157357.html|archive-date=23 April 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> The governor of Salahaddin province, Raed al-Jabbouri, characterized al-Douri as a "mastermind of Islamic State in Iraq" and stated that his death would be a blow to the group.<ref>{{cite web|title=Top Saddam aide Izzat al-Douri reportedly killed|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/04/17/Key-Saddam-aide-and-ISIS-commander-Ezzat-al-Douri-killed.html|publisher=Al Arabiya News|date=17 April 2015|access-date=23 April 2015|archive-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420200314/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/04/17/Key-Saddam-aide-and-ISIS-commander-Ezzat-al-Douri-killed.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 24 April 2015, the Iraqi Health Ministry spokesman, Dr. [[Ziyad Tareq]], said: "The ministry does not have any DNA test (results) for any relative of al-Douri at the present time, and further efforts will be made to achieve a DNA result."<ref>{{cite web|title=Iraq lacks DNA results to test body of 'Saddam deputy'|url=https://news.yahoo.com/iraq-lacks-dna-results-test-body-saddam-deputy-183918125.html|date=24 April 2015|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=27 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427065655/http://news.yahoo.com/iraq-lacks-dna-results-test-body-saddam-deputy-183918125.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lack of "basic DNA samples" to check Douri's dead body, Ministry|url=http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/04/baghdad-iraq-tradelink-iraqi-health.html|publisher=Iraq tradelink news|date=24 April 2015|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518070149/http://www.iraqtradelinknews.com/2015/04/baghdad-iraq-tradelink-iraqi-health.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Official: Iraq lacks DNA to identify body of Izzat Douri|url=http://rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250420153|publisher=Rudaw|date=24 April 2015|access-date=26 April 2015|archive-date=21 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182554/http://www.rudaw.net/english/middleeast/iraq/250420153|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 15 May 2015,{{Citation needed|date=May 2017}} a Ba'athist television channel released an audio recording, purportedly made by al-Douri, in which the speaker referred to events that had happened since al-Douri's reported death on 17 April.<ref name="record">{{cite news|title=Izzat Ibrahim al Douri emerges in new audiotape|url=http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/05/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-refutes-reports-of-his-death.php|work=Long War Journal|date=17 May 2015|quote=According to The Guardian, Al Douri commented on the deployment of Shiite militias in Nukhayb: 'Nukhayb represents a strategic position for Iran inside Iraq, and one of the aims of occupying Nukhayb is to open a front against Saudi Arabia.' The deployment of these militias happened after he was reported killed on 17 Apr..|access-date=16 January 2016|archive-date=11 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211191912/http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/05/izzat-ibrahim-al-douri-refutes-reports-of-his-death.php|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
On 21 June 2018, [[Raghad Saddam Hussein]] was reported to have sent a note of condolence to Al Douri's family, with the source saying that "Douri died of a [[Hypocholesterolemia|hematological illness]] at a Tunisian hospital."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.iraqinews.com/features/saddam-husseins-daughter-mourns-fathers-deputy-douri-source/|title=Saddam Hussein's daughter mourns father's deputy Douri: source|date=21 June 2018|access-date=29 June 2018|archive-date=29 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629183055/https://www.iraqinews.com/features/saddam-husseins-daughter-mourns-fathers-deputy-douri-source/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 
== Death ==
Several Arabic language media outlets reported that the [[Baath Party (Iraqi-dominated faction)|Baath Party]] announced his death on 26 October 2020.<ref name="auto4" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast-54693629 |title=عزة الدوري المطارد منذ 17 عاماَ "يرحل" بهدوء |website=BBC |language=ar |date=26 October 2020 |access-date=31 October 2020 |archive-date=1 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101044612/https://www.bbc.com/arabic/middleeast-54693629 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is unknown what he died of.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201026-saddam-husseins-aide-izzat-al-douri-dies-in-iraq/|title=Saddam Hussein's aide Izzat Al-Douri dies in Iraq|date=26 October 2020|publisher=Middle East Monitor|access-date=26 October 2020|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030000028/https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201026-saddam-husseins-aide-izzat-al-douri-dies-in-iraq/|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Baath Party issued a statement following his death on 25 October, which read: "Today, the knight of the Baath and the Iraqi national resistance has dismounted from his horse".<ref name="auto1" /> Saddam's daughter, Raghad, tweeted a message confirming Al-Douri's death on 26 October.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=RghadSaddam |number=1320697823252406273 |date=26 October 2020 |language=ar |title=أعزي نفسي وكل العراقيين عمّي الغالي الرفيق المناضل عزة إبراهيم الدوري }}</ref>
 
== See also ==
* [[Muhammad Saeed al-Sahhaf]]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Izzat Ibrahim ad-Duri}}
 
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Saddam Hussein]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the [[Ba'ath Party (Iraqi-led faction)|Ba'ath Party]]|years=2006–2020}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Salah Al-Mukhtar]]}}
{{s-end}}
 
{{Ba'ath Party}}
{{U.S. list of most-wanted Iraqis}}
{{Authority control}}
 
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douri, Izzat Ibrahim}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:Interior ministers of Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraqi mass murderers]]
[[Category:Iraqi Arab nationalists]]
[[Category:Iraqi generals]]
[[Category:Kurdish genocide perpetrators]]
[[Category:Members of the Regional Command of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Iraq Region]]
[[Category:People of the 1991 Iraqi uprisings]]
[[Category:People of the War in Iraq (2013–2017)]]
[[Category:People sentenced to death in absentia]]
[[Category:Vice presidents of Iraq]]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzat_Ibrahim_al-Douri"