April 01, 2008

Al Qaeda Propagandist Arrested in Mosul

For the last six months al Qaeda in Iraq's media arm, al Furqan, has produced very few videos. Most of al Qaeda's propagandists in Iraq have been either killed or captured.

In the last few weeks, out of nowhere, several new videos appeared in the forums from AQI's al Furqan. Guess where all the 'operations' were filmed? Mosul.

Sticking with a theme, I think al Qaeda propagandists might want to learn a lesson here.

BAGHDAD - Coalition forces detained eleven suspected terrorists using information from previous operations to target al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorists in two of the country's major cities Monday and today.

Monday in Mosul, Coalition forces targeted a suspected terrorist allegedly involved in the al-Qaeda in Iraq - or AQI - propaganda network and smuggling operations. When the ground force arrived at the scene, the wanted individual turned himself in and was detained.

Coalition forces followed with two more operations in Mosul today. In
one, the ground force captured an alleged close associate of senior AQI
leaders in the area. In another mission, information from an operation
Dec. 10 identified a wanted individual, believed to facilitate the
movement of foreign terrorists in the area. The wanted man and four
additional suspected terrorists were detained.

Coalition forces conducted two operations this morning around Baghdad.
Information from an operation Mar. 24 led Coalition forces to an area
northwest of the city, where they captured an alleged car-bombing cell
leader and two other suspects. During a precision raid in the city,
Coalition forces captured the alleged leader of AQI in the South Karkh
neighborhood. His predecessor was detained during an operation Feb. 17
(see MNF-I press release A080217c, "Coalition forces target weapons
facilitation networks; two killed, 12 detained," dated Feb. 17, 2008).

"The Iraqi people are turning against al-Qaeda and are supporting the
fight against terrorism," said Maj. Winfield Danielson, MNF-I spokesman.
"Iraqi and Coalition forces continue to target the al-Qaeda in Iraq
networks that are responsible for indiscriminate violence against
innocent civilians."
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Thanks to Bill Roggio.