The ten seniormost al Qaeda in Iraq leaders killed or captured in March and April.
The Long War Journal: Targeting al Qaeda in Iraq’s network, March-April 2008
Written by Bill Roggio on April 19, 2008 8:54 PM to The Long War Journal
As Coalition and Iraqi security forces work to dismantle al Qaeda in Iraq’s network nationwide, al Qaeda is attempting to reestablish operations in its former stronghold in Baghdad as well as in the northern city of Mosul. Al Qaeda’s ability to conduct large-scale, coordinated attacks has diminished since the fall of 2007 as the security situation improved. But as yesterday’s suicide attacks in Baqubah, Mosul, Ramadi, and Baghdad show, al Qaeda still maintains some capacity to coordinate operations and target civilians.
US and Iraqi security forces have killed or captured 53 senior members of al Qaeda in Iraq’s network over the past month, Major General Kevin Bergner, the spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq said during an operations briefing on April 15 in Baghdad. Bergner singled out the ten senior-most al Qaeda leaders. US and Iraqi forces have killed or captured five emirs, or leaders, three cell leaders and two facilitators – operatives in charge of moving men, weapons, explosives, and money to allow al Qaeda to continue operations. Nine of the ten senior operatives have been captured, which allows the Coalition and Iraqi forces to interrogate for information to paint a better picture of al Qaeda’s network.
Of these senior al Qaeda operatives killed or captured, three were responsible for operations in Mosul, and four in Baghdad. Joint forces killed or captured the leader of Mosul, his deputy, and, the leader of the eastern half of the city. In Baghdad, security forces killed or captured two leaders and two facilitators.
