Kuala Lumpur, Oct 1 (IANS): Malaysian jihadis recruited by the Islamic State (IS) terror group are training to become snipers and suicide bombers in Iraq, a media report said on Thursday.
Special Branch Counter Terrorism Division head Ayub Khan said the terror group now counted on some Malaysians to carry out its special missions all over Iraq, The Malaysian Star reported.
“The presence of the IS in Syria is quite solid but the group is losing control over Iraq as many territories have fallen back to Iraqi government forces."
“Our intelligence show that they are relying more on Malaysians now to carry out strike missions against several key structures in Iraq.”
The official said the Malaysian militants were plucked from the Khatibah Nusantara cell in Syria to join the special ops squads.
“The Khatibah Nusantara consists of Malaysian and Indonesian IS fighters. They band together as their language and interests are similar,” he said.
This new development came to light following the deaths of three Malaysians in Iraq, believed to be on special ops missions, Khan said.
The latest deaths bring the number of Malaysians killed in Syria and Iraq to 14.
At present, 69 Malaysians, including children are said to be fighting alongside the IS.