February 07, 2006

Top Al Qaeda Arrest, Zarqawi in Iran?

News that a top al Qaeda lieutenant was captured in Iraq, with the related news that Abu Musam al Zarqawi may be in Iran.

Hat tip to Reliapundit for sending this link:

The brief report on Iraqiya television yesterday identified the suspect as Mohammed Rabei, also known as Abu Dhar, and said he was No 4 in the al-Qaida. It gave no further details. Meanwhile, a senior Iraqi security officer said the Iraqi government has been receiving information that al-Zarqawi may have moved to neighboring Iran after hot pursuit by US and Iraqi forces in western Iraq.

The officer said Iraq's intelligence services have received information that the Jordanian-born terrorist was spotted a few weeks ago in areas close to the Himreen Mountains, 120 kilometres south of Kirkuk and near the border with Iran. "We are dealing with this information carefully but intelligence services are working on the assumption that he has been planning to move to Iran after being besieged in the areas where he was operating inside Iraq," said the officer, who declined to be identified further because of the sensitivity of the investigation.

Since Zarqawi has declared jihad on Shias in Iraq, it would be a little difficult to believe the Mullahs of Iran had welcomed him into that country. If he is there, it is probably without the consent of the Iranian regime. Then again, common enemies often lead to strange alliances.

By Rusty Shackleford, Ph.D. at 09:13 AM | |