The Story BONUS: Last Man Standing - the final battle
Mar 13, 2026
Anthony Loyd, veteran war reporter for The Times, joins the investigation with frontline experience and expert analysis. He recounts a tense prison meeting in Baghdad, examines evidence linking a detainee to ISIS activity, and pieces together new revelations about John Cantlie’s likely fate during the Mosul battle. The conversation explores prison access, strike records, and why Cantlie’s story still resonates.
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Why Nero Was Moved To An Iraqi Supermax
- Nero Sarajeva was a high-value Islamic State figure moved to an Iraqi maximum security prison at US insistence.
- Manveen Rana and Anthony Loyd secured a rare interview in Rasavar 4 after Kurdish authorities made an exception for journalists.
Hot Prison Interview Reveals Defensive Persona
- In a sweltering 50°C room Nero alternates between charm and menace while denying many allegations.
- He claims he went as an aid volunteer, despite public photos and ISIS documents showing combat dress and recruitment records.
ISIS Documents Tie Nero To Cantlie's Kidnap Chain
- ISIS internal records link Nero to Firas al-Absi, the leader tied to John Cantlie's first 2012 kidnapping.
- Those recruitment lists placed Nero in Syria in April 2012 and later as a senior local IS figure.