Top Qaeda leader in Iraq killed
2008-10-15 17:20
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Baghdad - The No. 2 leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq - a Moroccan known for his ability to recruit and motivate foreign fighters - has been killed in the northern city of Mosul, the US military said on Wednesday.
The military statement described him as a charismatic leader who had trained in Afghanistan and managed to rally al-Qaeda followers in Iraq despite US and Iraqi security gains.
Rear Admiral Patrick Driscoll, a military spokesperson in Baghdad, said US troops - acting on tips - killed Abu Qaswarah
on October 5 after coming under fire during a raid on a building that served as an al-Qaeda in Iraq "key command and control location" in Mosul, the military said.
Abu Qaswarah - one of five insurgents killed in the
raid - was later positively identified, the military said, without elaborating.
Driscoll said Abu Qaswarah - also known as Abu Sara - directed the smuggling of foreign terrorists into northern Iraq and reportedly killed those who tried to return to their homelands rather than carry out suicide bombings and other attacks against Iraqis.
- AP