It is reported that the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen. Take the reports with a grain of salt until Abu Ayyub al-Masri's death is confirmed:
U.S. spokesman Lt. Col. Christopher Garver said the U.S. command was looking into the reports.
![]()
"Obviously I hope it's true," Garver said, pointing out that previous Iraqi claims had proven false. "We want to be very careful before we confirm or deny anything like that."
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh told The Associated Press that al-Masri was believed to have been killed Monday in the Taji area north of Baghdad.
"Preliminary reports said he was killed yesterday in Taji area in a battle involving a couple of insurgent groups, possibly some tribal people who have problems with al-Qaeda. These reports have to be confirmed."
Tribesmen in the western Anbar province have been fighting al-Qaeda for weeks and claim to have killed dozens of them.
If true, and I hope it is, this is very good news indeed.
Comments