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Top Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders killed | Top Iraqi al-Qaeda leaders killed |
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Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US officials say two leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq have been killed in a joint Iraqi-US operation. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki and US officials say two leaders of al-Qaeda in Iraq have been killed in a joint Iraqi-US operation. |
Mr Maliki said on national TV that the Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who led an affiliate group, were dead. | Mr Maliki said on national TV that the Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, who led an affiliate group, were dead. |
The US military later confirmed the two had been killed by Iraqi forces. | The US military later confirmed the two had been killed by Iraqi forces. |
Mr Maliki said both had been killed in Thar-Thar, Salaheddin province, west of Baghdad, by Iraqi agents with US help. | Mr Maliki said both had been killed in Thar-Thar, Salaheddin province, west of Baghdad, by Iraqi agents with US help. |
Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and after their deaths. | Iraqi TV showed pictures of both men before and after their deaths. |
"The attack was carried out by ground forces which surrounded the house, and also through the use of missiles," Mr Maliki said. | "The attack was carried out by ground forces which surrounded the house, and also through the use of missiles," Mr Maliki said. |
He said the house had been destroyed and the two bodies were found inside, in a hole in the ground in which they had been hiding. | He said the house had been destroyed and the two bodies were found inside, in a hole in the ground in which they had been hiding. |
In a statement, US Forces-Iraq Commander Gen Raymond T Odierno said: "The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency." | In a statement, US Forces-Iraq Commander Gen Raymond T Odierno said: "The death of these terrorists is potentially the most significant blow to al-Qaeda in Iraq since the beginning of the insurgency." |
A US statement said Iraqi Forces with US support had mounted a night-time raid on the al-Qaeda leaders' safe-house. | A US statement said Iraqi Forces with US support had mounted a night-time raid on the al-Qaeda leaders' safe-house. |
It said the men were killed "after engaging the security team" and that Masri's assistant along with the son of al-Baghdadi were also killed. | It said the men were killed "after engaging the security team" and that Masri's assistant along with the son of al-Baghdadi were also killed. |
Previous official reports that both militants had been captured have turned out to be untrue. | Previous official reports that both militants had been captured have turned out to be untrue. |
Umbrella group | Umbrella group |
Abu Ayyub al-Masri is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. | Abu Ayyub al-Masri is also known as Abu Hamza al-Muhajir. |
He is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. | He is believed to have helped Abu Musab al-Zarqawi form the first al-Qaeda cell in Baghdad. Zarqawi was killed in June 2006. |
The Islamic State in Iraq is an umbrella organisation that includes several radical Sunni militant groups. | The Islamic State in Iraq is an umbrella organisation that includes several radical Sunni militant groups. |
Al-Baghdadi is a nom de guerre for its shadowy leader, although some US commanders have previously cast doubt on whether he even existed. | Al-Baghdadi is a nom de guerre for its shadowy leader, although some US commanders have previously cast doubt on whether he even existed. |
Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003. | Al-Qaeda in Iraq has been blamed for some of the bloodiest insurgent attacks in the country since the US-led invasion of 2003. |
The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that despite the optimism, the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006 did little to slow the insurgency. | The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad says that despite the optimism, the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in 2006 did little to slow the insurgency. |
The militants' fortunes in Iraq are at a low ebb, he says, and the deaths of its leaders are no doubt a factor in that, but there are many other elements involved too. | |
Mr Maliki is currently contesting the results of the 7 March election which was narrowly won by former prime minister Iyad Allawi. | Mr Maliki is currently contesting the results of the 7 March election which was narrowly won by former prime minister Iyad Allawi. |
Election officials have ordered a manual recount of votes cast in Baghdad after complaints from Mr Maliki that the electronic system of counting was unreliable. | Election officials have ordered a manual recount of votes cast in Baghdad after complaints from Mr Maliki that the electronic system of counting was unreliable. |
The recount could alter the final result of the poll. | The recount could alter the final result of the poll. |