In this The Daily Beast essay, later included in Places and Names, Elliot Ackerman recounts an extraordinary meeting with Abu Hassar, a former al-Qaeda operative who fought against American forces during the Iraq War.

Former Enemies at the Same Table

Ackerman travels to a refugee camp near Akçakale on the Turkish-Syrian border, initially presenting himself as a journalist. Over tea, baklava, and lunch, the two men compare their experiences from opposite sides of the same war.

War, Faith, and Brotherhood

The conversation moves through Iraq, Syria, prison, jihad, family, and the friendships forged in combat. Despite their opposing beliefs, Ackerman and Abu Hassar recognize a shared attachment to the men they served beside and the identities war gave them.

The Map Between Them

Unable to speak directly without an interpreter, they draw the Euphrates River and mark the towns and dates of their deployments. Their paths overlap across western Iraq, though never at the same time, revealing how closely former enemies can move through the same landscape without meeting.

A War Without Clear Sides

The essay examines how the Iraq War, the Syrian uprising, al-Qaeda, Jabhat al-Nusra, ISIS, and the Assad regime became part of a wider regional conflict whose alliances and enemies continually shifted.

Read the Original Essay

Read “The Fourth War: My Lunch with a Jihadi” at The Daily Beast →