Recent coalition raids have led to the killing of three leading members of al-Qaida cells operating in northern Iraqi cities, according to the U.S. military.
The three militants, who have been identified as Abu Tiba, Abu Harith and Abu Nahr, were killed in two separate raids earlier this month, according to a U.S. military press release.
Abu Tiba was allegedly the leader of an insurgent network in Samarra, a city in Salah ad Din province. According to the U.S. military, Abu Tiba was allegedly involved in extortion, kidnappings, the planting of roadside bombs and ferrying of foreign fighters.
He was killed during a raid east of Samarra on Nov. 12, according to the U.S. military.
Abu Harith was believed to have headed an al-Qaida cell in the oil-rich city of Kirkuk. According to the U.S. military, Abu Harith also coordinated insurgent activities in Mosul.
Abu Nahr was believed to have been Abu Harith’s deputy, according to the U.S. military. The pair were killed in a raid on Nov. 21.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, the military said it captured another high-ranking insurgent in the north of Iraq, in Mosul. The unnamed man is “believed to be an al-Qaida in Iraq leader with numerous connections to terrorist operations,” a news release said.
He allegedly receives foreign funding and was actively involved in murdering and intimidating Iraqi police, hijacking fuel trucks, manufacturing car bombs and using roadside bombs, the release read.
During the operation, a roadside bomb hit one of the U.S. military’s vehicles, but no injuries were reported.
