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Hudson Valley Student Killed Fighting For ISIS In Mideast

A 24-year-old Hudson Valley man died in Syria last November while fighting alongside the Islamic State, according to multiple media reports based on court filings released this week.

A Middletown man who attended college in Manhattan died in November 2015 while fighting alongside the Islamic State in Syria.

A Middletown man who attended college in Manhattan died in November 2015 while fighting alongside the Islamic State in Syria.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Word of Middletown resident Samy El-Goarany’s death came to light late Monday in court documents filed in a federal case against Ahmed Mohammed el Gammal, an Arizona man accused of helping him join ISIS, according to News 12.

El-Goarany, who was identified in earlier court documents as “Samy” before Monday’s legal papers were filed, traveled to Turkey in January 2015 without telling his family or friends, according to ABC News, which reported that he received military and religious training before heading on to Syria by the following month.

El-Goarany, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, studied at Baruch College in Manhattan, had other social media accounts – one of which featured “ a bullet-riddled mural of a Syrian political figure,” according to ABC7.

El-Goarany was apparently able to communicate to his friends and family via letters, videos and text messages, according to ABC7.

Haaretz, which reports primarily on Israel and the Middle East, reported that El-Goarany was able to get a letter to his family back home after his death.

"...If you're reading this then know that I've been killed in battle ...," says part of the letter, according to Haaretz, which cited prosecutors.

News 12 reported that before he died, El-Goarany, who was never charged by federal prosecutors, recorded a video message attempting to clear Gammal’s name.

Click here to read the report from News 12.

Click here to read the report from ABC7.

Click here to read the report from Haaretz.

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