Kamal, director of investigations at the Iraqi Interior Ministry, said
the exodus was sparked by the U.S.-led surge against Al Qaida in 2007. He
said cells of the so-called Al Qaida Organization in Mesopotamia were being
dismantled amid the flight of operatives.
"Our intelligence information indicates the withdrawal of certain groups
of Al Qaida from Iraq because of the military strikes," Kamal said in a
briefing to the Abu Dhabi-based Gulf News. "I believe this is the beginning
of the complete withdrawal of Al Qaida from Iraqi territory."
The security sources said Al Qaida operatives in Iraq were also trying
to reach North Africa, particularly Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco. They
said Iraqi and U.S. raids of Al Qaida strongholds in Iraq yielded plans to
resettle in several countries in Africa.
"Al Qaida has sought to replenish the dismantled cells with volunteers
from North Africa," a security source said. "But not enough people have
arrived."
Al Qaida operations in Iraq were said to have declined significantly
during 2008. The network was said to remain active in such provinces as
Diyala and Nineveh while sustaining major damage in Anbar and Baghdad.
Still, officials assess that Al Qaida would maintain an operational
presence in Iraq. They said Al Qaida regards the war against the U.S.
military in Iraq as a major tool in recruitment and fund-raising. Iraq and
the United States plan a major operation in Diyala to capture Al Qaida's
leadership.
"This [Al Qaida withdrawal from Iraq] will take years," Iraqi Maj. Gen.
Abdul Jalil Khalaf, a former police commander in Basra, said.
