Al Qaeda in Iraq leader killed - Interior Ministry

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, May 1 (Reuters) - The leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was killed on Tuesday in an internal fight between militants north of Baghdad, the Interior Ministry spokesman said.

Brigadier-General Abdul Kareem Khalaf told Reuters "we have definite intelligence reports that al Masri was killed today".


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01697195.htm

---

CNNInternational reporting the fighting happened in Taji and the US military cannot confirm the information at this time. CNNI's reporter on the ground also making it very clear this will have little effect on Al Qaeda in Iraq, as there is always someone ready to take their place.


COMBINED PRESS INFORMATION CENTER
BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.270.0320 / 0299

May 01, 2007
Release A070501a

5 TERRORISTS KILLED, 20 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED

BAGHDAD, Iraq – Coalition forces killed five terrorists and detained 20 suspected terrorists Tuesday during overnight raids targeting senior leaders within the al-Qaeda in Iraq network.

Intelligence reports led Coalition forces to targets associated with senior al-Qaeda leaders west of Taji Tuesday morning. During an operation there, terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing five.

Six suspected terrorists were detained.

Coalition forces found weapons and grenades, which they destroyed on site.

North of Samarra, Coalition forces detained seven individuals with alleged ties to senior leaders in Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Five suspected terrorists were detained in a separate Coalition forces raid west of Taji, and two suspected terrorists were detained in an operation in Mosul.

“These operations will affect al-Qaeda in Iraq’s ability to operate effectively against the people of Iraq, and provide us with more information to disrupt their activities,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson.

http://www.mnf-iraq.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11712&Itemid=128

[NickB79]

1. Again?

We do this what, every few months or so? Does it make a difference? Fuck no, over 100 troops died this month alone.

[maddezmom]

5. they thought he was dead in 2/06...he must be a zombie

U.S. Says No Sign Al-Masri Killed, Hurt

Friday February 16, 2007 8:28am from our sister station WJLA-TV

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A spokesman said Friday the U.S. military has no indication that the al-Qaida (website/news) in Iraq leader was killed or wounded in a raid, while an Iraqi army officer said his deputy has been jailed for a week. Interior Ministry spokesman, Brig. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said earlier Friday that terror leader Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, was wounded and an aide killed Thursday in a clash with Iraqi forces near Balad, north of Baghdad.

Khalaf declined to say how Iraqi forces knew al-Masri had been injured, and deputy Interior Minister Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali Kamal later said he could not confirm the information.

But spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said the U.S. military had no information to corroborate the account.

"We do not believe that he was either killed or wounded last night," Garver said.

more:http://bob.wjla.com/headlines/0207/397943.html

[Skittles]

2. one down, two more to go

there is a very limited number of Al Queda leaders. r i g h t

[truthisfreedom]

3. SO it's time to come home, right?

If their leader is dead over there, they won't be killing us over here, right?

[formercia]

4. Translation:

Locals told the troublemaker to get out of town because he was drawing too much heat. They killed him when he said no.

[antiimperialist]

6. Uh oh, this is not good news.

Judging by Zarqawi's death, things get really worse after an Al Qaeda figures is killed.

[Vinca]

7. So . . . since there's probably no one in line to fill his shoes,

we can bring the troops home! R-i-g-h-t?? Someone tell the King!
:sarcasm:

[Eugene]

8. Iraq probes reports of al-Masri's death

Source: Associated Press

Iraq probes reports of al-Masri's death

25 minutes ago

BAGHDAD - Iraqi officials have received reports that the leader
of al-Qaida in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen, but the chief
government spokesman said Tuesday the information has not
been confirmed.

The statement by spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh followed a welter
of reports from other Iraqi officials that Abu Ayyub al-Masri
had been killed. Iraqi officials have released similar reports
in the past, only to acknowledge later they were inaccurate.

U.S. officials said they could not confirm the reported death.

Al-Dabbagh told Al-Arabiya that word of al-Masri's purported
death was based on "intelligence information," adding that
"DNA tests should be done and we have to bring someone to
identify the body."

-snip-

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070501/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_al_qaida_leader

[liberal N proud]

9. How many times are they going to kill this guy?

[MaineDem]

14. He's Kenny. n/t

[ShortnFiery]

10. OMG, we've killed over two dozen Al Quaeda leaders and aids ...

What's up with that? These evil dudes must multiply like tribbles? :shrug:



Hello?!? Reporting "body counts" didn't win us Vietnam either ... it's not about bombing them into the stone age, military geniuses. :eyes: You have to understand the culture and concerns of the locals ... you have to show that you actually give a DAMN about the quality of life of the Average Iraq. But that's too hard, so you'll continue to kick in doors and report "body counts." Continue to repeat the mistakes of Vietnam ... "win every battle yet lose the war." :eyes:

[Rockholm]

11. The timing is so friggin' BLATANT!

4th anniversary of Mission Accomplished and the Iraq funding bill to be vetoed today.
It really doesn't get any better than this.

[Thor_MN]

15. Wow, they are really running out of material. A killing by tribesmen is their distraction?

They could have at least claimed that US trained Iraqi forces did it. Proof of them "Standing up" (Kneeling? Sitting up? Lifting their heads?) and all. Instead, if anyone was in fact killed, he pissed off some local bullies and wound up dead. Don't look for in depth analysis from the corporate media on this one, this rabbit that they pulled out of their asses doesn't look too good for them.

[Igel]

33. If it's the Anbar Salvation folk's mini-militia,

it's probably good news. Even if it's not the Egyptian that's been whacked, but one of his acolytes.

The various truck/car and chlorine bombs have just been billed as "terrorist" attacks, when they're part of a campaign being waged between Sunni Arabs on the one hand and AQ and the ISI on the other. The Sunni Arabs have organized a bit of a militia, and have had many of their guys become police. It's part sectarian and part tribal warfare. It's made for stability in places, but wherever it gets stable AQ et al. have to make sure to destroy any stability, lest it be known that peace is possible without their jackboots.

[Roland99]

12. Wait a sec! Didn't we just have the #1 in custody?? Who the hell let him out??

:crazy:

[brooklynite]

13. Dialing back already?

On the 8 AM newscast, ABC described the source as "unreliable"

[Bluzmann57]

27. See, it's only "reliable" if he was "killed" by U.S. forces

And he was allegedly killed last year. How many no 2 guys are there in Al Qaida anyway? Is everybody behind Bin Laden no. 2? And WHERE IS BIN LADEN? He should be public enemy no. 1, top priority, dead or alive, and so on. But no, the bush mob just wants to throw morsels out there about some minor players in a country we have no business in to begin with.

[Heidi]

16. Kick.

:kick:

[brooklynite]

17. ABC: Reports of the death of.. Leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.. unconfirmed.. disinformation campaign

Source: ABC News

SOURCES TELL ABC NEWS THAT REPORTS OF THE DEATH OF HAMZA AL MASRI, LEADER OF AL QAEDA IN IRAQ, ARE UNCONFIRMED AND PART OF A MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN. DEVELOPING...

Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/

[marmar]

18. And ABC is more than willing to spread the bullshit....

:argh:

[MrModerate]

19. And, even if true, so what?

Like there's some shortage of well connected, monied psychopaths to take his place?

[MessiahRp]

25. Exactly!

It's not as if al-Qaeda left Iraq with it's tail between it's legs when Zarqawi died.

Rp

[underpants]

20. CNN was reporting on it this morning as if it were true

but truth went out the window a loooooooooong time ago

[Monkeyman]

21. CNN Reporting on it now

Military is on its way to confirm. HMMM the day Bush's Veto way does this sound like what we have heard before every time he needs good press:spank:

[alcibiades_mystery]

22. The brevity with which the Today Show reported this non-event

was telling. Nobody in the newsrooms believe that this is a real story, so nobody wants their hands all over it.

Besides, we know by now that even if it were a real story, it means nothing. Remember when the death of Uday and Qusay was supposed to be the end of it...

[Loge23]

23. Where in the world is David Gregory?

Never mind the idiot Lauer.
What happened to Gregory?
After getting the spotlight for his skeptical questioning of the WH hacks, it appears that someone put a whisper in his ear.
Rewards?
All of a sudden here's Gregory - on stage with Public Enemy Rove.
Here's Gregory again getting the "exclusive" with ailing WH liar Snow.
Let the misinformation continue!

[Heidi]

24. Here's a direct link to the ABC story:

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3104020

[goclark]

26. Wow! " Mission Accomplished Day" how amazing

that they find him today. :sarcasm:

[Doctor_J]

28. Good! Bring the soldiers home then!

[maddezmom]

29. Qaeda-linked group denies Iraq Qaeda leader killed

More DUBAI, May 1 (Reuters) - The self-styled Islamic State in Iraq denied the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was killed on Tuesday.

"The Islamic State in Iraq assures the Islamic nation about the safety of Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, may God save him, and that he is still fighting the enemies," said the Qaeda-linked group in a statement posted on a Web site used by militants.

Iraq's interior ministry said earlier on Tuesday that the militant leader was killed in an internal fight between militants north of Baghdad.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L01604792.htm

[Az_lefty]

30. how many times can you kill the same leader?

:shrug:

[bdamomma]

31. they have to do DNA tests yet, and how many more will pop

up after his death. Many more.

[ButterflyBlood]

32. ah good. There's another one of his nine lives down.

Kill him a few more times and maybe he'll actually be dead for good.