Iraqi Army, Police and Coalition advisors arrest 10 Ansar Islam operatives

BAGHDAD – Mosul Special Weapons and Tactics and Iraqi Army soldiers, with Coalition advisors, conducted a series of raids on July 24 that targeted and successfully captured key leaders and operatives of Ansar al Islam in Mosul.

Fakri Hadi Gari, also known as Abu ‘Abbas and Mullah Halgurd, assessed to be the deputy commander for Ansar al Islam was arrested during this raid. He is believed to be responsible for AAI recruitment and financing efforts and the operational director for AAI attacks. He is also believed to have facilitated the movement of terrorists across the borders of Iraq.

In addition to Mullah Halgurd, the AAI financial emir and a driver/counter for AAI leadership were captured. The force arrested 10 suspected terrorists in total, pursuant to warrants issued by an Iraqi directorate in Irbil.

This operation is the result of a long-term investigation by the Iraqi Army and police forces. Iraqi security forces and coalition advisors will continue to work closely together to ensure terrorists who threaten the security of Iraq are prosecuted under the Iraqi justice system.

http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2009/08/iraqi_troops_detain.php

“Iraqi troops detain deputy leader of Ansar al Islam”

By BILL ROGGIO
August 4, 2009 1:25 PM

SNIPPET: “Background on Ansar al Islam and its links to al Qaeda and Iran”

SNIPPET: “Ansar al Islam has been behind major terror attacks against the two secular Kurdish political parties. As the insurgency grew, Ansar al Islam conducted bombing and suicide attacks against Iraqi civilians as well as US and Iraqi forces.”

SNIPPET: “Since the US invasion of Iraqi in 2003, Ansar al Islam has received direct support from Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Captured members of the group have said that the Iranians have been supplying safe houses in Iranian Kordestan and providing fighters with weapons, cash, and medical treatment.

Kurdish officials have accused Iran of controlling Ansar al Islam’s actions in Iraq.

“From time to time Iran uses them [Ansar al Islam fighters] as a pressure card to make trouble for us,” claimed Salam Omer Ibrahim, the mayor of the Iraqi border city of Said Sadiq in October 2007. “They’re saying, ‘If you help our opposition, we have ways to respond’.””

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