May 08 2008

Did They Get Him?

Published by Gaius at 4:17 pm under War

Iraqi authorities have announced the arrest of the head of al Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. There is no confirmation from the American military, however.

Mohammed al-Askari said the arrest of al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was confirmed to him by the Iraqi commander of the province. There was no immediate confirmation or comment from U.S. forces on the arrest.

The U.S. military in Baghdad said "we are currently checking with Iraqi authorities to confirm the accuracy of this information."

Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf said that Mosul police "arrested one of al-Qaida's leaders at midnight and during the primary investigations he admitted that he is Abu Hamza Al-Muhajir."

News of the arrest was also reported by Iraqi state television and Arab satellite TV stations.

The state channel, Iraqiya, said that Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bolani would reward Mosul police for the capture.

A very big blow if it turns out to be correct. News from Iraq has been mostly absent these days. It's good to have some potentially good news from there. Expect another tape from bin Laden if it does turn out to be real.

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