Key ISIS commander Ezzat al-Douri killed

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: Al Arabiya

Al Arabiya News Channel reported on Friday that Ezzat al-Douri, a member of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and a key aide of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has been killed in a wide-scale military operation

The governer of Salahaddin Iraqi official confirmed the death, saying al-Douri was “mastermind of Islamic State in Iraq,” and that his killing is a blow to the group.

DNA tests would further confirm his identity.

Read more: http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/04/17/Key-Saddam-aide-and-ISIS-commander-Ezzat-al-Douri-killed.html

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(link has a pixelated photo of the body, if you don't want to see that). Reuters link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/17/us-mideast-crisis-iraq-douri-idUSKBN0N81EZ20150417

[cosmicone]

1. Yay!!

One down

[ck4829]

2. Something's not right here...

Another place says he declared war on ISIS and a reason for it was because of ISIS's attacks on Christians.

http://english.shafaaq.com/index.php/politics/10630-baath-in-iraq-declares-war-on-isis

Is this the same guy?

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. This says his group did ally with ISIS after that:

Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri was Saddam's number two, Revolution Command Council vice-chairman in the former Iraqi regime, and is now the funder of Sunni insurgents in Iraq. On 13 July 2014 an audio recording emerged that was purportedly from tal-Douri, calling on Iraqis to join efforts to "liberate" the country and praised the offensive by Sunni militants. The voice recording released on a website loyal to Saddam's ousted Baath Party was said to have been made by Ezzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most senior member of his entourage still at large following Saddam's 2003 overthrow by a U.S.-led invasion force.

Although elderly and reported to have been in poor health, Douri is believed to lead the Baathist militant group the Naqshbandi Army, one of several groups which supported the al-Qiada offshoot the Islamic State. "Join the ranks of the rebels who liberated half the country," said the voice on the recording, which resembled previous tapes released in Douri's name. "The liberation of Baghdad is around the corner. Everyone should contribute, to the extent of his ability, to complete the liberation of the beloved country, because there is no honour or dignity without its liberation."

The Naqshbandi, issued a statement on 20 July 2014 that was important for what it didn't say. It didn't name or pledge allegiance to ISIL, and instead focused on a list of ideals the group stood for: it condemned attacks on religious minorities, and set itself up as a national resistance movement. Imran Khan is reported on 01 October 2014 that "Statements from other Sunni groups followed. ISIL were never referred to by name and many began to wonder about the exact nature of the relationship between ISIL and the Sunni rebels. Then the statements semingly stopped appearing. The last one seems to have been issued on August 24. Through information gathered from contacts with Sunni rebels and ISIL, it appears that a deal was struck in September aimed at reconciliation. In Anbar, Salaheddin and Diyala provinces the main rebel groups - the Naqshbandi, the Mujahedeen army, the Rashedoun army , Ansar al-Islam and Ansar al-Sunnah - have pledged allegiance to ISIL and are being supplied with weaponry, equipment and money by ISIL."

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/al-douri.htm

[ck4829]

4. OK, that explains it

[7962]

5. The article is kinda convoluted after translation

Looks like he's saying ISIS had gone too far in some actions, but at the same time he encouraged all the fighters working to 'liberate" Iraq. So I guess he got what was coming to him regardless
"The statement added that "at the time we announce our refusal to all acts of ISIS , we show our pride in all the brothers who perform the same mission of rebel clans and national factions which are fighting with us today for the liberation of the entire territory of Iraq," according to the statement.

The secretary general of the dissolved party and the former Iraqi Vice President , Izzat al-Duri has praised in a recorded speech al-Qaeda fighters and ISIS organization."

[samsingh]

6. kick

[tabasco]

7. Another unemployed member of the Iraqi army,

put out on the street thanks to the rank stupidity of Paul Bremer.

[Surya Gayatri]

8. Let's hope this proves to be true and the first of many.

[eissa]

9. al-Douri as the mastermind of anything is a bit of a stretch

the man was a complete imbecile. I'm not sure what to make of this.

[yellowcanine]

10. Was he the "Mastermind," the Sheriff, or the Deputy Dog?

Second in command, driver, courier, or chief cook and bottle washer? I have trouble keeping them all straight anymore. We need to bring back the deck of cards we used for the Saddam Hussein gang so we can know exactly who was killed/captured and how important they were.

[muriel_volestrangler]

11. vice chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izzat_Ibrahim_al-Douri

And 'King of Clubs', if that helps you.

[yellowcanine]

12. Thanks. "King of Clubs" is as useful as any or the other titles.

Which is to say, how do we not know that it is not all being made up as we go along by some Cheney and Rumsfeld holdovers burrowed into the military command? Actually, "Vice Chairman" may be quite telling. Often as not there can be more than one "Vice Chairman." In other words, the guy may not be all that significant. Still, King of Clubs.......