BAGHDAD — Iraq has captured 17 Al Qaida leaders over the past week.
Officials said the Iraq Army and security forces have arrested 17 senior
Al Qaida operatives in central Iraq. They said another Al Qaida commander
was killed in a U.S.-Iraqi operation.
"My message to the terrorists and death squads is 'Your ally is
failure,'" Iraqi National Security Adviser Muwaffaq Al Rubaie said.
On Thursday, Al Rubaie told a news conference that many of the Al Qaida
operatives were captured in an operation to foil insurgency cells in
Baghdad. He said 35,000 Iraqi troops have been deployed in the Iraqi
capital, Middle East Newsline reported.
Five of the Al Qaida operatives were arrested in Baghdad, Al Rubaie
said. The official identified one of the operatives as Dr. Saad, said to
have been killed in an operation south of Baghdad.
Al Rubaie identified the other Al Qaida operatives as Amir Al Karoghly,
deemed a spiritual guide in the Baghdad province. Another operative was
identified as Mohammed Ali Al Obeidi, accused of planning dozens of car
bombings in which hundreds of Iraqis have been killed.
The operation has been comprised of 22,000 local police and 13,000
members of the national police. Officials said more than 30,000
patrols were conducted.
"I would like to kiss every policeman on his forehead and tell him thank
you for all what you sacrificed," Al Rubaie said.
Iraq and the United States have launched the second phase of the Baghdad
security plan. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki said forces by the
Defense Ministry and Interior Ministry have been participating in the
operation.
