Iraq claims intelligence breakthroughs, reports capture of Al Qaida commander
BAGHDAD Ñ The Iraqi police said it has captured a senior commander in Al Qaida in
the western province of Anbar.
The commander was identified as Saadi Nayef
Ali Bukheit, said to have targeted Shi'ites in western Iraq.
Iraqi police spokesman Maj. Gen. Tariq Yusef said Al Bukheit was under
interrogation and confessed to numerous crimes in the Saqlawiya region of
Anbar, Middle East Newsline reported. Yusef said Al Bukheit admitted to 11 killings in Anbar over the last
two years.
Yusef said Al Bukheit shuttled between Iraq and Syria. He said the Al
Qaida commander was believed to have left Syria for Iraq to plan a new round
of attacks.
"We have no security cooperation with the Syrian security services,"
Yusef said. "However, our intelligence services are strong as we have
penetrated all terrorist organizations. We also know their moves inside
Syria or in any other state."
The Interior Ministry has reported the capture or killing of several
senior Al Qaida commanders over the last year. Many of these reports were
not confirmed by the U.S. military.
Officials said Al Bukheit was captured on Feb. 15 based on intelligence
data. They said he had been under surveillance for weeks and was spotted
in a restaurant north of the Sunni city of Faluja.
"This person is from Al Anbar, and is responsible for sectarian
killings," Yusef said. "He is responsible for killing livestock traders from
the holy city of Karbala and from [Baghdad's] Sadr City."
