[UPDATE] Below is the update, reports were false.MSNBC Breaking News: Iraqi official: Al-Qaida in Iraq leader wounded.
Al-Masri reportedly hurt, in custody; aide slain in skirmish north of Baghdad
BAGHDAD, Iraq - The leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was wounded and an aide was killed in a clash Thursday with Iraqi forces north of Baghdad, the Interior Ministry spokesman said.
The clash occurred near Balad, a major U.S. base about 50 miles north of the capital, Brig. Gen Abdul-Karim Khalaf said.
Khalaf said al-Qaida in Iraq leader Abu Ayyub al-Masri was wounded and his aide, identified as Abu Abdullah al-Majemaai, was killed. Sources tell NBC News that al-Masri is in custody.
From The Jawa Report:
UPDATE by Rusty: Bill Roggio told me a few days ago that he was pretty sure that Task Foce 145 was on to al-Masri's location. Looks like he was right. More from Bill Roggio on the hunt for the new al Qaeda in Iraq leader here. Most importantly, he says, is that al-Masri is much more of an effective leader than Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ever was, so his death would be a far greater blow.
You'll remember that last week a story we ran created quite a buzz when we reported that the Coalition had specifically targetted al Qaeda in Iraq cells and that they were hot on the trail of al Masri.
Hot Air has constant updates.
The Counterterrorism Blog is warning to wait until we, the US, have confirmed it.
Remember this comes right on the heels of Iraq The Model telling us of the progress happening right now in Iraq.
Also on the heels of al-Sadr getting out of dodge.
Seems some good news the mainstream media cannot hide and find themselves having to actually report it... that must be killing them.
Too bad.
So, once again I encourage the Senate leader Harry "the wus" Reid to continue on his quest to get a discussion going on Iraq, and while you are at it Mr. Reid, I hope you choke on the good news that this new operation has already shown.
Same goes for the house....continue so that we may document and save all of this to use against you in your next elections.
To the wobbly republicans.... keep on wobbling, there are thousands of us that will never contribute, nor vote for you again.
Can we get a HOOOOOOOOOOOOAHHHHHH!!!!???!!!!!
Update from PJM:
UPDATE (Feb. 16): “The U.S. military on Friday cast doubt on a report from the Iraqi government that al Qaeda in Iraq chief Abu Ayyub al-Masri was wounded in clashes with police.
A senior U.S. official, who requested anonymity, told CNN that the U.S. military believes reports about the alleged incident Thursday are false.
Despite the doubts, Iraq’s Interior Ministry stood by its initial report that police wounded al-Masri.
[…] Khalaf said Americans would not know about the details because only Iraqi police were involved. This was not a joint U.S.-Iraqi military engagement, Khalaf said.
Al-Masri is now on the run, he said.” (CNN)
Meanwhile, “An Iraqi army officer said Friday that an Al Qaeda in Iraq deputy has been jailed south of Baghdad, casting doubt on reports that he was killed and the group’s leader was wounded in clashes.” (AP)
Others discussing this:
CNN, Prairie Pundit, On Deadline, Blue Crab Boulevard, Anti-Idiotarian Rottweiler, Jules Crittenden,
.