# Women in jihadi groups gain formal authority

> Women move from suicide bombers to leading jihadi groups.
- Title: Women in jihadi groups gain formal authority | Shortify
- Summary: Women move from suicide bombers to leading jihadi groups. Khadra Essa, a Somali-born Dutch citizen, leads an all-female ISIS combat unit and is wanted by the…
- Keywords: khadra essa, isis, isis-nk, khatiba nusaybah, al-khansaa, samantha lewthwaite, aafia siddiqui, federal court, u.s. state department, suicide bombing, jihadi groups, women in terrorism
- Source: The Conversation — https://theconversation.com/from-suicide-bombers-to-positions-of-authority-the-changing-role-of-women-in-jihadi-groups-292409
- Author: Sara Harmouch
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: khadra essa, isis, isis-nk, khatiba nusaybah, al-khansaa, samantha lewthwaite, aafia siddiqui, federal court, u.s. state department, suicide bombing, jihadi groups, women in terrorism
## Khadra Essa
Khadra Essa, a Somali-born Dutch citizen operating in Syria under the name Umm Qaqa al-Somali, is a wanted woman.
## U.S. reward offer
On Sept. 14, 2026, the U.S. State Department again publicized its offer of up to US$5 million for information about her whereabouts.
## ISIS-NK unit
The U.S. notice describes Essa as the chief sharia instructor of Khatiba Nusaybah, or ISIS-NK, an all-female Islamic State combat battalion formed in Raqqa, Syria, in 2016.
## U.S. allegations
The United States alleges she received formal training in weapons, explosives and suicide operations.
## Historical context
Two decades ago, women were rarely formal leaders in jihadi groups, but played roles as bomb carriers in militant movements.
## Early female bombers
By 2002, Palestinian militant groups used female suicide bombers, including Wafa Idris who died in Jerusalem in January 2002.
## Al-Shabaab expansion
Nigerian-based Boko Haram used 434 female suicide bombers across 238 attacks between April 2011 and June 2017.
## Al-Qaida's early stance
In 2009, al-Qaida’s wife Umayma al-Zawahiri published a letter allowing women to fund operations but emphasizing their role in home management.
## Al-Shabaab leadership
Al-Shabaab began promoting women as leaders in 2014, citing Aafia Siddiqui and Samantha Lewthwaite as role models.
## ISIS al-Khansaa
In February 2014, ISIS formed the al-Khansaa Brigade in Syria to handle security and intelligence, but without command authority.
## Khatiba Nusaybah
In late 2016, ISIS approved Khatiba Nusaybah, an all-female military battalion led by Allison Fluke-Ekren.
## Sarah Jamal Muhammad
In January 2024, the U.S. Treasury designated Sarah Jamal Muhammad al-Sayyid for supporting ISIS through cybersecurity and logistics.
## Women’s evolving roles
Women now hold formal authority in jihadi groups, training recruits, enforcing rules, and managing operations.
## Key takeaway

Khadra Essa, a Somali-born Dutch citizen, leads an all-female ISIS combat unit and is wanted by the U.S. for up to $5 million.