Biden says killing of two al-Qaida leaders in Iraq "devastating blow"

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2010 (Xinhua) --

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said Monday the killing of two al-Qaida leaders in Iraq was " potentially devastating blows" to the network, and it demonstrated the Iraqi forces' capabilities.

Biden made the brief statement in the White House, after Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced earlier in the day that the two top leaders of al-Qaida in Iraq were killed Sunday in a joint operation of the Iraqi and U.S. forces.

Among the two killed was Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri, military leader of al-Qaida in Iraq, while the other was Hamid Dawud Muhammad Khalil al-Zawi, also known as Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, who served al-Qaida in Iraq as the leader of the group's self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq.

"This action demonstrates the improved security, strength and capacity of Iraqi security forces. The Iraqis led this operation, and it was based on intelligence the Iraqi security forces themselves developed," Biden said.

The Pentagon said al-Masri replaced Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in June 2006, and he was directly responsible for high- profile bombings and attacks in Iraq.

Editor: yan

Al-Maliki says top two al-Qaeda leaders killed in Anbar

April 19, 2010 - 02:00:32

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

 Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Monday that the two leading al-Qaeda figures in the country were killed in a security operation in Anbar. “Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and a number of al-Qaeda leaders in Iraq were killed during a security operation in al-Tharthar region in Anbar,” al-Maliki said at a press conference, attended by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

SH (P)

U.S. army confirms killing of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, Abu Omar al-Baghdadi

April 19, 2010 - 04:24:46
BAGHDAD —

The U.S. army confirmed on Monday the killing of top two al-Qaeda group leaders in Iraq Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al Masri, and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi during a military operation on Sunday.

“Iraqi Security Forces, supported by United States Forces, killed the two most-senior leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) early Sunday morning during a series of joint security operations 10 km southwest of Tikrit,” said a U.S. statement received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

“Abu Hamzah al-Muhajir, also known as Abu Ayyub al Masri, is the military leader of AQI, the terrorist organization responsible for facilitating attacks against Iraqi and Coalition forces as well as Iraqi civilians.　

Abu Ayyub al Masri replaced Abu Musab al Zarqawi when Zarqawi was killed in June of 2006.

Also killed during the engagement was Hamid Dawud Muhammad Khalil al Zawi, otherwise known as Abu Umar al-Baghdadi, who served AQI as the leader of the proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and held the title “Prince of the Faithful.”

A series of Iraqi-led joint operations conducted over the last week resulted in the Iraqi Forces, with U.S. support, executing a nighttime raid on the AQI leaders’ safehouse.　

 Additionally, Masri’s assistant, along with the son of al-Baghdadi were killed.

During the operation, a USF-I Soldier was killed during the assault when a U.S. helicopter crashed.
SH (S)

U.S. soldier killed, 3 wounded in copter crash in northern Iraq

April 18, 2010 - 05:42:19

BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq:

A U.S. Soldier was killed and three others wounded in a helicopter crash in northern Iraq during a late hour of Saturday night, according to a U.S. army statement on Sunday.

“The incident did not involve any shooting incidents. The crash is under investigation,” read the statement as received by Aswat al-Iraq news agency.

The death has brought the number of U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to 4,391, including four in April 2010.

AmR (S)