Al Qaeda Criminals Rounded Up By Coalition Forces
The continued efforts in rounding up Al Qaeda and insurgency forced were assisted last week with the announcement of three additional terrorists being arrested. These three were directly involved in supplying others with training and supplies, and were apprehended February 20th.
The ongoing use of females as suicide bombers is also something that coalition forces are investigating. Al Qaeda is adopting the use of women in its suicide bombers, and the Coalition Forces are looking for ways to stop that from happening.
“We are seeking different ways to mitigate that threat,” said Rear Admiral Gregory J. Smith. Admiral Smith spoke to reporters in Baghdad recently.
Abu Karrar was a senior Al Qaeda leader believed responsible for many of the recent suicide bombing attacks. He was found and during heavy fighting killed by coalition forces outside Baghdad on February 21st. Abu Karrar also traveled under an alias, Arkan Khalaf Khudayyir, and believed a key member of the terrorist cell that recruited women suicide bombers.
Soldiers operating with Coalition forces near the village of Khan Bami Sad spied Karrar and two other suspects in a vehicle, and aiming weapons at coalition forces. After yelling at them to stop, when they ignored soldiers the insurgents were shot and killed in the firefight.
One day earlier Abu Sayf, another suspected Al Qaeda leader was captured in an East Mansour neighborhood of Baghdad. Sayf is believed to have masterminded a number of car attacks involving car bombs, including on February 11th in a crowded village square in Karrada.