Iraqi sources said two senior Al Qaida operatives were killed
in the Anbar province near the Syrian border on Saturday, Middle East Newsline reported. The
casualties were identified as Ahmed Hadid and Ibrahim Keitan.
The two Al Qaida commanders were killed by Iraqi special operations
forces in cooperation with Sunni tribes, sources said. They said the
assistance of Sunni tribes has led to the death or detention of more than
100 suspected Al Qaida operatives in Anbar in 2007.
"If the identification is confirmed, then Al Qaida has lost its leaders
in Anbar," a security source said.
Hadid was identified as the Faluja commander of the so-called Islamic
State in Iraq, said to have been responsible for many of the attacks in
Anbar. Keitan was said to have been the military coordinator of Al Qaida in
Anbar.
A leading facilitator in the Iraqi-U.S. counter-insurgency operation has
been the Bu Issa tribe in Anbar. The sources said the tribe helped in a raid
that captured 37 suspected Al Qaida operatives over the weekend.
The sources said Al Qaida established numerous weapons caches as well as
deployed boats in Anbar. They said the insurgents operated along the
Euphrates valley and targeted Iraqi, U.S. troops and pro-government tribes.
On Saturday, the U.S. military reported the capture of an Al Qaida
commander. The unidentified operative was said to have headed the Al Qaida
cell in Rusafa, northwest of Taji. Another suspect was identified as a
former vehicle-borne improvised explosive device cell leader.
"They've effectively turned back the tide of Al Qaida [in Anbar]," U.S.
deputy military commander Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno said. "But there will be
counter-attacks by Al Qaida."
