Jordanian Brigadier General (Retired), Doctor in Educational Philosophy, and military analyst, Fayez Al-Duwairi was born in Irbid in 1952 and participated in military missions both within Jordan and abroad. He held several positions until his retirement in 2005.
His fame increased following his frequent appearances as a military analyst on Al Jazeera, particularly during his analysis of the Palestinian resistance after the "Al-Aqsa Flood" operation. One of the fighters from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, shouted during a video clip of a resistance operation against occupation soldiers, "Analyze this, Duwairi."
Early Life and Education
Fayez Mohammed Hamad Al-Duwairi was born on March 3, 1952, in the town of Ktum, Irbid governorate, northern Jordan. His family was a rural one, engaged in farming and herding, which marked his upbringing.
He grew up between the towns of Al Husn and An Nuaymah, among seven siblings, four males and three females.
Dywairi describes himself as a "Jordanian with Jordanian forefathers, proud of it, but I won’t allow anyone from Yafa or Tulkarm to question my stance on Palestine or my conviction that Palestine is my cause as much as it is theirs."
Academic Formation
Al-Duwairi received his primary education in the schools of Ktum and completed his preparatory education in An Nuaymah, 4 kilometers from his village. He then completed his secondary education in Al Husn.
In an interview with Al Jazeera Net, Al-Duwairi recounted his post-secondary choices, "I had several options, including going to university, which was my preferred choice because I've always dreamed of being a university professor. However, during that period, my family and brothers faced poverty and hardship. Three older brothers bore the financial burden, so another option was to apply to what is known as the Military College."
He was accepted into the accounting program at the University of Jordan before entering the Military College between 1972 and 1973. He graduated and advanced in military rank from a lieutenant to a brigadier general, then joined the Jordanian Armed Forces’ Royal Engineering Corps, becoming the director.
Chosen as part of the military's educational corps, he became a training wing commander, head of trainers, school commander, and instructor at the Command and Staff College. Later, he became a director at the War College, and then the commander of the Command and Staff College.
Al-Duwairi trained at the U.S. Army's School of Advanced Military Studies and became the first officer specializing in strategic planning and the art of war management outside NATO member states.
He later attended the Command and Staff Military College for a year and was then sent to Pakistan for an international course at the Pakistani Command and Staff College.
After retiring in 2005, he joined the University of Jordan and earned a Ph.D. in Educational Philosophy, with a thesis titled "The Role of Official Universities in Enhancing the Concept of National Security."
Professional Career
Upon joining the Jordanian Engineering Corps, Al-Duwairi participated in the demining operations along the Jordanian-Syrian border and played a prominent role.
Observers say that Fayez Al-Duwairi, an analyst, "causes headaches for the Israelis" (Al Jazeera)
He served as a military engineering officer in Yemen from 1977 to 1979, strengthening the Bab al-Mandab Strait and constructing "Khaled Camp" in Hodeidah.
Back in Jordan in 1979, he enrolled at Yarmouk University to study Business Administration and attended the Command and Staff College post-Pakistan.
Appointed as the director of the Royal Jordanian Engineering Corps, he became the commander of the Jordanian Command and Staff College with the rank of brigadier general and remained until his retirement in 2005.
Military Analysis
Al-Duwairi, also known as "Abu Jamal," dedicated his writings to military analysis and gained further popularity through his repeated television appearances, analyzing military tactics and strategies used in wars and regional conflicts.
He delved into subjects including the future of NATO, Russia's return to the Arab world, arms deals, the nuclear arms race, the Russian war on Ukraine, and other topics.
Since starting his television commentary on Al Jazeera to analyze Palestinian resistance against occupying forces, audiences have considered Al-Duwairi's words as crucial as those of Abu Ubaidah, the spokesman for the al-Qassam Brigades.
Political analysts and activists describe Al-Duwairi as "causing headaches for the Israelis." He participated in a television debate with Eddie Cohen and embarrassed him by showing that a manhole cover from Yafa carries the word "Palestine" from 1936, proving that it predates the state of Israel by 12 years.
"Analyze, Duwairi"
Known for his optimistic appraisal of Palestinian resistance performance following the Al-Aqsa Flood operation, Al-Duwairi asserts that targeting essential Israeli military vehicles (e.g., Merkava tanks and Namer armored vehicles) at close range in the ground battle against Gaza shows that Israeli forces "are fighting ghosts."
Unlike the Palestinian fighter, the Israeli soldier enters the battle heavily armored, with substantial fear for his life, subjecting him to immense psychological pressure.
Al-Duwairi emphasizes that the Israeli soldier knows he is advancing towards death, fighting unprotected against an opponent ready to do anything for victory.
When speaking of Gaza, Al-Duwairi proudly declares, "There is nothing like it in military history from Alexander the Great until today."
A video released by the al-Qassam Brigades on December 25, 2023, featured one of its fighters shouting "Analyze, Duwairi." The clip showed success in targeting a house in Hajar al-Deek, hiding ten Israeli soldiers. The region, in northern Gaza, was secured by the Israeli army since the early days of the ground invasion.
The area targeted turned into a massive ball of flames and smoke, resulting in Israeli military casualties and injuries, according to the al-Qassam Brigades.
Responding to the al-Qassam fighter's plea during a military analysis segment on Al Jazeera, Al-Duwairi said, "I will analyze," echoing the Qassami's cry "Analyze, Duwairi."
Books and Publications
Al-Duwairi released his first book, "National Security," in 2013, presenting concepts and analyses about national security and the significance of educational institutions in fortifying this security.
