More intelligence successes in Iraq

Mosul Terrorist Cell Leader Killed (from CentCom)

Nashwan Mijhim Muslet (aka Abu Tayir or Abu Zaid), a senior operational al-Qaeda in Iraq terrorist cell leader, was killed during a Coalition raid of a suspected safe house in Mosul Oct. 22. He personally assisted in at least three videotaped beheadings.

His cell was known as the primary beheading cell for Abu Talha, the al-Qaeda in Iraq Emir of Mosul who was captured in June, 2005, and Abu Zubayr, second in command to Talha and later Emir of Mosul after Talha was detained. Zubayr was killed in August, 2005.

The beheadings were filmed to intimidate the local population of Mosul as well as Iraqi citizens throughout Iraq. Intelligence reports indicate that Nashwan personally helped Zubayr behead three Mosul citizens during one of the videotaped gatherings.

As a senior operational cell leader, Nashwan was chiefly responsible for attacking Iraqi Security and Coalition forces.

His cell was also responsible for intimidating Mosul citizens through criminal activities. Nashwan’s cell conducted roadblocks, stopping local citizens to extort money from them or to kidnap family members of businessmen or prominent families to ransom them for money.

Nahi Achmed Obeid Sultan (aka Abu Hassan), assistant to Nashwan, was killed during the raid. He was responsible for providing personal security for Nashwan and running the day-to-day operations of the terrorist cell.

Al Qaeda Facilitator Likely Dead in Coalition Air Strike (from DefenseLink)

A senior al Qaeda member who assisted foreign fighters in Iraq was probably killed in an air raid in Ushsh, Iraq. (Ushsh is in western Iraq along the Euphrates, not far from the Syrian border. See this map from Bill Roggio.)

Intelligence sources indicate that Abu Dua, who helped Syrians and Saudis enter Iraq to intimidate and kill Iraqi citizens, was in the house at the time of the strike. Dua was linked to other al Qaeda terrorists and facilitators in the Qaim, Karabilah and Husaybah areas. He also was a known close associate of Ghassan Amin, an al Qaeda member known as the "emir of Rawah." Amin was captured in May.

Just yesterday, October 25, coalition forces raided three suspected terrorist safe houses, detained six terrorists, and killed several others in the town of al Ushsh.

These operations are indications of the stepped-up efforts to prevent foreign terrorists from entering Iraq through Syria.

Ushsh has been a busy place. A similar air raid in Ushsh on September 26 killed Abu Nasir, another senior al Qaeda in Iraq foreign fighter facilitator and the alleged new al Qaeda in Iraq Emir of Karabilah at the time.

Suspected architect of roadside bomb campaign captured (from Stars&Stripes, HT: Bill Roggio)

Ayub Ali, believed responsible for many roadside bombings and other attacks, was captured by Iraqi police.

On the U.S. side, soldiers celebrated the detention of a notorious insurgent captured last week amid nighttime fighting at a polling site. Iraqi police arrested and turned over Ayub Ali, who is believed to be responsible for a two-year campaign of roadside bombs, political assassination and other attacks in the areas surrounding Muqdadiyah and nearby Baqouba.

"He’s not so much a Islamic extremist as he is a gun–for–hire type of criminal," said Capt. Alexander Marrone, head of intelligence for Task Force 1–30 here at Forward Operating Base Normandy.

After his arrest, Ali "sang like a bird," Marrone said. U.S. forces hope information from Ali will lead to further arrests.