Al Qaeda in Iraq leader reported captured in Mosul

Bill Roggio:

The Iraqi military claimed Abu Ayyub al Masri, al Qaeda in Iraq’s leader, has been captured in the northern city of Mosul in Ninewa province. The US military has not confirmed the report of al Masri’s capture.

Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammed al Askari said al Masri’s capture was “confirmed to him by the Iraqi commander of the province,” The Associated Press reported. The person believed to be al Masri has been transferred to US custody for identification, according to Askari. Al Masri’s capture was also announced on Iraqiya Television, the state-run TV network, AP reported.

The Iraqi government has a history of announcing the capture of senior al Qaeda leaders, only to have to retract the statements. The Iraqi government had made several claims of wounding, killing and capturing both al Masri and Abu Omar al Baghdadi, the fictitious leader of al Qaeda’s Islamic State of Iraq, several times during 2007. The reports turned out to be false or cases of mistaken identity.

Al Qaeda’s senior leadership is thought t be attempting to regroup in Mosul. US and Iraqi forces have killed several key al Qaeda leaders in Mosul over the past several months. Fourteen of the top 30 al Qaeda operatives that have been killed or captured during the past three months were al Qaeda leaders in Mosul, including three al Qaeda leaders from Saudi Arabia.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's last major ratline into Syria spans westward from Mosul into Tal Afar and the crossing point at Sinjar. The terror group is waging a brutal campaign to prevent the Iraqi Army and US forces from securing the province.

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The UK Times report on the capture is here.

If true the main benefit will be intelligence on current operations and location of other leaders. When Zarqawi was killed troops found a treasure trove of information on the locations and plans of al Qaeda. Also, communications with al Qaeda in Pakistan might also be found with him. His capture should also degrade qn Qaeda's ability to operate in Iraq.

Reuters gives these details on al Masri's capture:

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An Interior Ministry spokesman said an associate of Masri detained in an earlier operation took security forces late on Wednesday to where the al Qaeda leader was hiding.

After being detained, Masri confessed to being the al Qaeda in Iraq leader, he said, adding that his identity still had to be confirmed. Other Iraqi security officials said the suspect was in American custody for identification.

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"When police entered the house, they found him asleep," Kashmula said, adding the suspect was alone.

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That sounds a little like the capture of Khalid Sheik Mohammad who immediately asked for a lawyer. Al Masri is apparently already doing some talking.