ABC News - Three Key Leaders Believed Killed in Baghdad

ABC News ^

[steveegg]

B A G H D A D, Iraq, March 21 — Three top Iraqi leaders — including Saddam Hussein's cousin, the infamous "Chemical Ali" — are believed to have been killed in what would be a major blow to the regime's defense against the U.S.-led onslaught, CIA officials told ABCNEWS.

ABCNEWS' Brian Ross reported that the three critical Iraqi officials — Taha Yasin Ramadan, Izatt Ibrahaim al Douri, and Ali Hassan Majid, known as Chemical Ali — are believed to have died in Wednesday night's "decapitation attack," the opening salvo of the war. CIA officials said they reached this conclusion based on radio traffic analysis.

"Chemical Ali" earned his chilling nickname by using chemical weapons to suppress a Kurdish rebellion in Northern Iraq in 1987 and 1988. Hundreds of villages were razed, and more than 100,000 Kurds died.

Meanwhile, over Baghdad, sirens sounded another warning over Baghdad following U.S.-led bombings that pummeled the city, and bombs and missiles continued to rain over targets across the country.

"This is much, much, more than anything we've had earlier," ABCNEWS' Richard Engel reported from Baghdad as attack aircraft were heard over the city for the first time in this war. "It's hard to even see the western side of the city through all the smoke."

Air War Has Begun

While the series of devastating bombings appear to have paused over Baghdad, there were reports of new explosions heard near the northern Iraqi cities of Mosul and Kirkuk and in the village of Sergat.

Defense officials said the air campaign would continue for 24 hours (until approximately 1 a.m. ET) as a "continually rolling operation" involving 1,500 total sorties by missiles and strike aircraft.

Meanwhile, in another major development, U.S. military sources said that the commander of Iraq's 51st division and his top deputy surrendered to U.S. marine forces today. This was the division charged with defending Basra, a key strategic city south of Baghdad. It was the first time that the commander of an Iraqi division has surrendered to allied forces.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Chemical Ali is just inert chemicals now.

Good Riddance. I hope he's enjoying the unique chemistry of Hell, now and forever.

[aristeides]

I wonder why they're not saying anything about Saddam and his sons.

[blam]

Excellent news, Chemical Ali dead!

Maybe that's why the Iraqi troops in the south are surrendering.

[mhking]

"And like that....he was gone...."

[rwfromkansas]

they are unfortunately, possibly alive.

[MEG33]

I hope that monster suffered.

[nicmarlo]

FOX just this minute said that military is still worrying about him being in the southern portion--he's the 4th most wanted.....just said now.

[CholeraJoe]

Raytheon - "When you care enough to send the very best"

[nicmarlo]

I'm referring to Chemical Ali as still being alive, in Southern Iraq, being the 4th most wanted.....(sorry)

[hattend]

Him who? Chemical Ali or Saddam and his sons?

[steveegg]

I trust FoxNews more than ABC, but since ABC was kind enough to put it on the web, I thought I would as well.

[nicmarlo]

Chemical Ali....FOX reporting military still worried he's alive....Southern portion of Iraq

[hattend]

never nind

[Scott from the Left Coast]

That's likely why they seemed so disorganized -- only firing a few wells and being completely disorganized and not ready on the terminal facility captured by the Seals yesterday.

[judicial meanz]

Those guys are/were Army sector commanders. Good hit!!!!!!

[nicmarlo]

No problem....it's funny, I was reading your thread just as FOX was bringing up Chemical Ali.....didn't General Franks say he was cutting off intelligence info to media (I think I read it was directed towards ABC?)

[nutmeg]

Chemical Ali....FOX reporting military still worried he's alive....Southern portion of Iraq

Yeah, I haven't heard anything on FOX yet that Chemical Ali is dead (unless I missed it).

[org.whodat]

ABCNEWS' Brian Ross reported that three critical Iraqi officials, Taha Yasin Ramadan, Izatt Ibrahaim al Douri, and Ali Hassan Majid — known as Chemical Ali — were killed in the "decapitation attack" on Wednesday

Show me the bodies and the DNA test

[patriciaruth]

Wasn't Ibrahaim their top military general, kind of like our Tommy Franks?