LOC11:55
08:55 GMT
BAGHDAD, Oct 4 (KUNA) -- A leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq's Baghdad networks
who was the mastermind behind some of the city's recent bombings was killed by
Coalition forces Friday.
Mahir Ahmad Mahmud Judu' Al-Zubaydi, also known as Abu Assad or Abu Rami,
was believed to be A-Qaeda "emir" of the Rusafa neighborhood of Baghdad. He
exercised a degree of control over terrorist operations in other districts as
well, said a Multi-National Force (MNF) statement on Saturday.
Coalition forces were led to a building in Baghdad's Adhamiya neighborhood
Friday after receiving intelligence reports indicated Abu Rami was there. Upon
arriving at the building, Coalition forces surrounded it and called on the
occupants to surrender.
During the callout, forces were engaged with small arms fire coming from
the building. In retaliation, the Coalition forces returned fire, killing Abu
Rami and a female.
"Sadly, here again is a case where the Al-Qaeda has put innocent lives in
danger in order to protect themselves and shield their terrorist efforts,"
said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, Multi-National Force-Iraq spokesman.
Coalition forces evacuated several children from the building before
performing a controlled detonation of unexploded ordnance inside the
residence. When the house caught fire, forces called for assistance from the
local fire department, and as a safety precaution, began evacuating
surrounding buildings.
In his position, Abu Rami allegedly masterminded numerous car bombings. A
Baghdad bombing cell in his network is assessed to be responsible for separate
car bomb and suicide bomber attacks in Baghdad Oct. 2, which killed eight
people and wounded more than 30 others.
Abu Rami was reportedly also responsible for multiple car bombings and
mortar attacks in Sadr City in 2006 and 2007, including one car bombing on Nov
25, 2006, which killed more than 200 people.
In addition to car bombings, Abu Rami was assessed to be a planner and
participant in multiple kidnappings and videotaped executions. In a video
recording from June 2006, Abu Rami is seen shooting one of four Russian
diplomats.
Abu Rami allegedly had ties to AQI senior leaders in Baghdad and the
Northern Belt around the city. He is reportedly responsible for attacks in
Baghdad, Salah ad-Din and Diyala provinces.
Originally a member of Ansar Al-Islam, Abu Rami joined AQI in 2004 and
became the military "Emir" of the Rusafa district in 2007 before taking over
responsibility for all terrorist operations there this year. Suspected members
of the network already in custody say Abu Rami was focused on car bombings and
suicide bombings and personally selected the targets. He allegedly ordered and
directed a car-bombing attack May 1 that killed one American Soldier and
wounded three Soldiers and three Iraqi civilians. Detainee reporting puts him
at the scene of the crime.
Intelligence reports indicate that Abu Rami advocated going after civilian
targets and inflicting casualties on the Iraqi population.
While the terrorist group has been marginalized by its attacks on Iraqi
civilians, detainees in custody report that Baghdad's AQI membership has been
severely curbed by many men joining Sons of Iraq groups. They say AQI is
unable to effectively recruit new members because of the perception the
terrorist group is failing.
"Abu Rami did nothing for the people of Iraq except fill their cemeteries
with innocent victims," Admiral Driscoll said. "His removal from the AQI
network will send shockwaves through Baghdad's terrorist bombing networks. Its
ability to conduct grizzly attacks against Iraqi civilians and Coalition and
Iraqi forces has been severely crippled by this precision operation." (end)
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