Saudi Al Qaida commander killed in Mosul
Tuesday, March 4, 2008 Free Headline Alerts
BAGHDAD — The U.S.-led coalition has reported the killing of a leader of the Al Qaida network in Iraq.
The U.S. military said Jar Allah, a Saudi national, was killed in Mosul on Feb. 27 in an operation by Iraqi and U.S. forces, Middle East Newsline reported. Jar Allah, also known as Abu Yasir Al Saudi, and Hamdan, was identified as the Al Qaida commander of southeastern Mosul.
"Abu Yasir Al Saudi was the southeast Mosul emir for Al Qaida in Iraq and led a foreign terrorist facilitation network in the city," the military said on March 1.
Officials said Abu Yasir conducted numerous attacks against Iraqi and U.S. forces, including the improvised explosive device strike on Jan. 28 that killed five American soldiers. They said Abu Yasir worked for an Al Qaida commander detained by the U.S. military on Feb. 18.
Abu Yasir was said to have been part of the Al Qaida effort to rebuild the insurgency network in Mosul. Officials said he arrived in Mosul in August 2007 and was appointed cell leader in the southeast portion of the city.
"Abu Yasir Al Saudi, a Saudi Arabian national, was a close associate of numerous terrorist leaders, to include the AQI senior leader for the northern Iraq networks and the overall AQI senior leader, Abu Ayyub Al Masri," the military said.
Officials said Abu Yasir was responsible for orchestrating as well as participating in strikes throughout Mosul. One of the foiled attacks included the assembly of an IED in a 5,000-pound vehicle.
"Abu Yasir Al Saudi's death is a significant setback to Al Qaida in Iraq's efforts in Mosul," coalition spokesman Capt. Vic Beck said. "Iraqi and coalition force operations are degrading the AQI networks in Mosul where we have captured or killed 142 Al Qaida terrorists since January."
The military said a close associate of Abu Yasir was also killed. The dead insurgent was identified as Hamdan, another Saudi national who coordinated the entry of Al Qaida operatives into Mosul and led a regional anti-aircraft ring.
"Al Qaida is incredibly resilient," U.S. military commander Gen. David Petraeus said on Sunday. "And they are receiving people and supplies through Syria — although numbers through Syria are down as much as 50 percent."