Abu Tahsin al-Salhi—revered throughout Iraq as the “Sheikh of Snipers”—rose to almost legendary status during the brutal war against ISIS. A battle-hardened fighter whose service stretched back to the 1973 Yom Kippur War, al-Salhi carried more than forty years of experience, skill, and discipline into the conflict.
After ISIS swept across much of Iraq in 2014, he joined the Popular Mobilization Forces, a network of government-supported Shia militias. His remarkable accuracy and steady nerves quickly set him apart on the battlefield.
With 384 confirmed kills, many achieved at astonishing ranges, al-Salhi became both a nightmare for ISIS militants and a source of confidence for the men fighting beside him. By the time Mosul was liberated, he had evolved into far more than a frontline sniper—he stood as a national emblem of endurance and defiance, a man whose unshakeable determination helped shape Iraq’s struggle against extremist forces.
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi fought in several conflicts
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi, an experienced combatant in his sixties, had participated in numerous conflicts prior to his involvement in the Iraqi Civil War, also known as the 2013-17 War in Iraq. His military journey commenced during the 1973 Yom Kippur War, where he fought alongside the 5th Mountainous Brigade in the Golan Heights.
Becoming a seasoned soldier over the decades
Following this, Abu Tahsin al-Salhi fought in the 1974-75 Second Kurdish-Iraqi War, the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War and the Iraq War. By the time ISIS militants pushed across the Iraq border, he was a well-seasoned soldier. Despite his age, he took up arms to defend his country against the invading enemy.
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi fought with the Popular Mobilization Units
In 2015, Abu Tahsin al-Salhi joined the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a government-approved coalition that works alongside the Iraqi Army but operates on its own. The PMU has strong connections with Iraq’s military and security forces.
The coalition comprises around 40 militias, with around 100,000 fighters in total. While most members are Shia, the PMU also includes Sunni, Christian, and Yazidi fighters.
An exceptionally-skilled sniper
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi enlisted with the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), where his exceptional marksmanship quickly became legendary. Credited with taking out over 300 enemy fighters, his extraordinary accuracy earned him the nicknames “Hawk Eye” and the famed “Sheikh of Snipers.” His skill and steadfast dedication inspired a tribute video celebrating both his deadly precision and unwavering devotion to the cause.
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi was dedicated to defending his country
In the video, Abu Tahsin al-Salhi recalled how he was granted a month-long break from fighting. However, after just two weeks, his deep commitment to defending his country drove him to return to the battlefield.
He explained, “I’m relaxed, my mind is relaxed. Last time they gave me a month off, and after 12 days, I came back.”
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi lost his life in northwest Iraq
Abu Tahsin al-Salhi conducted most of his sniping operations from Jurf al-Sakhar—later renamed Jurf al-Nasr—southwest of Baghdad, though his reputation was built across multiple battlefronts throughout Iraq. His final deployment brought him to the outskirts of Hawija in the northwest, then one of ISIS’s remaining bastions. In September 2017, as he moved forward with a Popular Mobilization Units’ assault to reclaim the region, al-Salhi was killed while advancing with the militia.
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At the age of 64, he was killed in combat—leaving behind a reputation not only for his unparalleled skill with a rifle but also for the immense respect he commanded throughout Iraq’s armed struggle. His exceptional record and unshakeable courage elevated him to an icon of resistance, and those who fought alongside him continue to carry his legacy forward.