U.S. identifies al-Zarqawi's successor - Abu Ayyub al-Masri, a/k/a Abu Hamza al-Muhajir

AP on Yahoo ^ | 6/15/06 | AP - Baghdad

[NormsRevenge]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. military said Thursday the man claiming to be the new al-Qaida in Iraq leader is Abu Ayyub al-Masri, an Egyptian with ties to Osama bin Laden's deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, a U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad, said al-Masri apparently is the same person that al-Qaida in Iraq identified in a Web posting last week as its new leader — Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, a nom de guerre. Al-Muhajer claimed to have succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a June 7 U.S. airstrike, and vowed to avenge him in threatening Web statements in recent days.

The military showed a picture of al-Masri wearing a traditional white Arab headdress at a Baghdad news conference.

The Afghanistan-trained explosives expert is a key figure in the al-Qaida in Iraq network with responsibility for facilitating the movement of foreign fighters from Syria into Baghdad, Caldwell said.

He has been a terrorist since 1982, "beginning with his involvement in the Egyptian Islamic Jihad, which was led by al-Zawahri," Caldwell said.

The spokesman added that raids in April and May in southern Baghdad recovered material confirming his high-level involvement in the facilitation of foreign fighters.

"Al-Masri's intimate knowledge of al-Qaida in Iraq and his close relationship with (al-Zarqawi's) operations will undoubtedly help facilitate and enable them to regain some momentum if, in fact, he is the one that assumes the leadership role," Caldwell said.

He said, however, that al-Masri's ability to exert leadership over al-Qaida cells remained unclear and there were other "al-Qaida senior leadership members and Sunni terrorists" who might try to take over the operations.

Caldwell singled out Abu Abdul-Rahman al-Iraqi, who in the past had been identified as al-Qaida in Iraq's deputy leader in statements by the group, and Abdullah bin Rashid al-Baghdadi, the leader of the Mujahedeen Shura Council — five allied groups in the Sunni Arab-dominated insurgency.

[Thunderpants]

Many of them are. They take nom doe guerres.

So, me being ofrom Australia, if I joined Al Qaeda (as you do) I'd be Abu Al Australii. Some go a bit further and add in other names too - meaning things like Lion of Jihad etc etc.

Its actually a fairly sound military tactic. Makes identification harder and builds a sense of cohesion.

[NormsRevenge]

I had title corrected and asked to have aka added in place of NOT, it may have read a bit odd, oops.

al-Masri aka al-Muhajir is a sheikh , has Egyptian Islamic Jihad connections going back to the early 80s, trained in afghanistan with al-zawahari in the late 90s, his specialty is IEDs.

[Caesar Soze]

"Abu" means "son of". It's like noting that all the IRA terrorists have "O'" or "Mac" in front of their names.

Bin/ibn is the patronymic. Abu means "father of." The last leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq went by the nom de guerre "The Father of Musab, from Zarqa." His actual name was Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh. I rather think we should've used his actual name instead of his preferred name, like calling Hitler Shickelgruber. In al-Khalayleh's case, it sounds like "alcoholic."

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Abu Ayub Al Bullseye...may your tenure be brief and you may claim the 500 pound bomb with your name on it. Just give us the GPS coordinates to the USAF and we will personally deliver it to your location!

[nikos1121]

" "Abu" means "son of". It's like noting that all the IRA terrorists have "O'" or "Mac" in front of their names. "

I get it as in:

Abu-A-Beetch

[newcthem]

"Ah.......look, I'm the chosen of ahlah.......I already have a red light on my forehead!"

[Grampa Dave]

I have replaced the other jerk with the new name in my pictorial: A quick Summary of Z Pig's last day and what his replacement, Abu Ayyub al-Masri will face:

Z Pig, Monster was betrayed by his closest allies (Zarqawi location tipped off by captured deputies) {Why the libs don't want WOT prisoners questioned!} Abu Ayyub al-Masri, which one of your closest allies will turn you in for the money that will be offered for your death?

"Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey...!"

Hi. My name is Abu Boohoo Zarqawi and I'm dead now.

Happy Iraqis celebrate the death of Z Pig:

Some more. "What is good for Americans and Iraqis, is bad for al Qaeda Serial Killers and their Democrat buddies..."

When the Z Pig entered hell, he found out that his 72 virgins were clones of Helen Thomas. They are having their way with him now.

Abu Ayyub al-Masri, son of a pig wants to be the next Z Pig? Abu Ayyub al-Masri, our warriors will find your "Safe House" after your buddies roll over on you. Then our warriors will send you to hell to be with the original Z pig! Your 72 Helen Thomas Virgins are waiting for you.

No Problem! Here comes your Bomb!

Abu Ayyub al-Masri and other Z Pig replacements! Enjoy your eternity in hell with your special 72 virgins!

Hang in there beloved Zarkman. I will be joining you in hell soon! Love Cindy!

Some more. "What is good for Americans and Iraqis, is bad for al Qaeda Serial Killers and their Democrat buddies..."

[SmithL]

al-Masri is easily identifiable by the red laser dot on his forehead.

[sachem longrifle]

I enjoy your cartoons

[sachem longrifle]

I enjoy your cartoons

[cloud8]

> Many of them are. They take nom doe guerres...Its actually a fairly sound military tactic. Makes identification harder and builds a sense of cohesion.

And those not named Abu are Mohammed or Abdulla. Yeah, it may be intentionally confusing, but going under the cover of an alias could also be interpreted as a sign of cowardice.

[eyespysomething]

The father of Ayyub the Egyptian?

Well that narrows it down, lol.

[cloud8]

> I rather think we should've used his actual name instead of his preferred name, like calling Hitler Shickelgruber. In al-Khalayleh's case, it sounds like "alcoholic."

Absolutely. We dignify these pigs too much, honoring them with their noms de guerre, tossing in words from their pig puke language, like "jihad" "hajj" "fatwa" etc. Using the Arabic term, and not calling it an "Islamic death sentence" tends to obscure the inherent barbarity of their culture. Of all times to SPEAK ENGLISH, this is it.

[NormsRevenge]

Abu Ayyub al-Masri is seen here an undated photo released by the US Army. The US military believes this man, whose alias is Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Mohajer, was the successor of slain Al-Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.(AFP/HO-US Army)

[NormsRevenge]

NEXT!!!

U.S. military spokesman in Baghdad Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq Thursday, June 15, 2006 looks across at a photograph that purports to show Abu Ayyub al-Masri who is allegedly the man claiming to be the new al-Qaida in Iraq leader and apparently the same person as a man identified by the nom de guerre Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, according to the U.S. Military, who has claimed to have succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and vowed to avenge him in threatening web statements in recent days. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

---

U.S. military officer Major-General William Caldwell points to a framed picture of the dead al Qaeda leader in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, during a US military briefing in Baghdad June 8, 2006. Caldwell said the successor of Zarqaqi, Egyptian-born Abu Ayyub al-Masri, also known as Sheikh Abu Hamza al-Muhajer, was believed to be operating out of Baghdad.(AFP/File/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

[Grampa Dave]

Thank you twice for your kind words.

FR has a little duplicating of replies syndrome this morning.:)

[Grampa Dave]

Enjoy your short lived fame on life's stage, Abu Ayyub al-Masri. Your quick and one way trip to hell to be a virgin for Zark Pig has been paid for and validated at the gate.

[Dog Gone]

Looks like a nice young man. He's gonna be dead or at Gitmo soon.

So sad.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just posted this from the BBC:

Al-Qaeda 'coming to end in Iraq'

I'll go check and see what AP is reporting.,...

[tarator]

"Abu" means "son of".

Almost correct. Actually, it means "father" or "elder". "Ibn" is the arabic word for "son".