Iraq - Significant Progress

Captured Al Qaida leaders providing critical intelligence

The U.S. and Iraqi military are making significant progress against Al Qaida terrorists in Iraq, despite recent high-casualty bombings attributed to the group.

Army Brig. Gen. Kevin Bergner outlined the recent successes to reporters July 18 when he noted that operations targeting Al Qaida leaders led to the death or capture of 26 senior leaders. Several car bomb factories and weapons caches for the group also were destroyed, including one where two truck bombs were being prepared.


The July 4 capture of senior Al Qaida leader Khaled Abdul-Fattah Dawoud Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, also known as Abu Shahid, was the most senior terrorist caught. Mashhadani is a close associate of Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the Egyptian-born head of Al Qaida in Iraq.


According to intelligence officials, Mashhadani is providing intelligence on the group, including its targets, cell structure, funding and ideological support.

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