Counterterrorism Research Library Iraq Islamic State of Iraq Confirms Death of Al-Qaida in Iraq Leaders Abu Hamza al-Muhajir and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Islamic State of Iraq Confirms Death of Al-Qaida in Iraq Leaders Abu Hamza al-Muhajir and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi
Last Updated (Monday, 29 November 1999 19:00) Written by Laith Alkhouri Sunday, 25 April 2010 14:00
On April 24, 2010, the al‐Fajr Media Center released a statement from the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) confirming the deaths of Al‐Qaida in Iraq (AQI) military leader Abu Hamza al‐ Muhajir and Abu Omar al‐Baghdadi, the Amir al‐Mumineen (“Commander of the Faithful”) of AQI. On April 19th, the U.S. Department of Defense had announced that “a series of Iraqi‐led joint operations conducted over the last week resulted in the Iraqi Forces, with U.S. support, executing a nighttime raid on the AQI leaders’ safe-house. The joint security team identified both AQI members, and the terrorists were killed after engaging the security team. Additionally, al-Masri’s assistant, along with the son of al‐Baghdadi, who were also involved in terrorist activities, were killed.” The ISI statement mourned the deaths of “two men who were known as two steadfast heroes on the path of jihad in spite of the inflammation of calamities and the stress of hardships and the rising number of enemies.” The communiqué also announced that most of the members of Abu Bakr Army had joined the ISI.
