Defender of city against ISIS
Salah Al-Din remembers local hero Omaya Al-Jbara on tenth anniversary of death
SALAH AL-DIN — The community of Al-Alam in Salah Al-Din gathered recently to mark the tenth anniversary of Omaya Al-Jbara’s death. Al-Jbara, revered for her valor, died on June 22, 2014, from injuries sustained while fighting ISIS forces on the front lines.
During the memorial, attendees recounted how Al-Jbara used her vehicle’s loudspeakers to mobilize local men to defend their city. Her son, Omar Al-Jbara, shared her history with 964media, highlighting her roots in the prominent Al Jbara family of Al-Alam, born in 1974, amidst 14 siblings. “Our family faced numerous threats from ISIS,” he said.
“Omaya was adept with light and medium weapons, distinguished as the first woman in our tribal area to drive and to be officially recognized as a ‘Sheikh.’ She was a staunch advocate for women’s rights and held a law degree,” he added.
Fatima Al-Jbara, Omaya’s aunt, recalled the day of her niece’s martyrdom as a “dark day for all cities in Salah Al-Din.” She shared a poignant memory: “That morning, I told her she would become a martyr, but she dismissed my fears as the worries of the elderly.” Omaya’s heroism was further exemplified when she rescued four children near the university, amidst rocket fire, ensuring their safety with the 4th Division.
ISIS, which had captured extensive territories in Iraq and Syria and declared a caliphate in 2014, was expelled from Iraq in 2017 by Iraqi forces, the Peshmerga, and a U.S.-led coalition. The group’s last bastion in Syria fell in 2019 to forces supported by the U.S.
Jasim Al-Jbara, Omaya’s brother, highlighted her commitment beyond the battlefield: “My sister served as the governor’s advisor on women’s affairs and was actively involved in various civil society organizations. She bravely fought ISIS for 14 days during the siege on Al-Alam, ultimately falling to a sniper’s bullet while on the frontline.”
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