An Algerian, Abdullah Anas went to Afghanistan to fight with the Mujaheddin in 1983. He remained there until 1992. He was a founder of the "Office of Services", forerunner of Al-Qaeda and knew Osama Bin Laden well. He married the daughter of Sheikh Abdullah Azzam, leader of the "Afghan Arab" fighters, and became the closest friend amongst the Arabs to Ahmed Massoud, the Mujaheddin leader who became head of the Northern Alliance. During the war against the Soviet Union, he also became close to the emir of the Arab Mujaheddin. Anas is on the council in exile of the Algerian political party Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), and lives in London, having gained political asylum and British citizenship.