The leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Ayyub al-Masri, has been arrested, according to media reports quoting the country’s defence ministry.
Masri, also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir, was detained in the northern city of Mosul, reports said.
The US military in Iraq said it was currently looking into the reports.
The Egyptian-born militant took over the leadership of the group from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shortly after he was killed in a US air strike in June 2006.
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for or has claimed responsibility for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in Iraq since the US-led invasion in 2003.
Halleluiah!
Ahh.. the Beeb. The scare quotes say a lot, don’t they?
Confirmation is always a good thing in these type of instances! Once confirmation comes then …then I will give praise!
One of those very rare individuals who possess the most useful intel that could literally save American lives, certainly in Iraq and perhaps elsewhere around the world. One wonders how quickly his very perishable information can be harvested given the current PC-driven requirement to treat this scum with kid gloves. Where is Jack Bauer when you need him?
Wonder, if it’s he, who he really is? Both of his names appear to be pseudonyms. “Masr” means Egypt; al-Masri, “the Egyptian.” There are reasons why Egypt is still a police state. Much of what an Egyptian friend of mine calls “the Mania” originates here.
False alarm. BBC is reporting US Forces have said it is a case of mistaken identity. Better luck next time.