The increased presence of Iraqi security forces may be one cause of dissention about tactics between al-Qaeda leaders. Above, security forces in Baghdad. [Mohammed Ameen/Reuters]
Iraqi police found the bodies of two prominent al-Qaeda leaders last month in a house in the western suburb of the city of Radhwaniya, southwest of Baghdad, apparently the victims of an internal al-Qaeda dispute.
The incident prompted officials to discuss the broader implications of the growing internal dissentions and disputes within al-Qaeda in Iraq.
These disputes between al-Qaeda leaders have reached their apex, officials said.
"This was the fourth incident of its kind in about a month as it seems as if al-Qaeda has begun to devour itself," Col. Hikmat Mahmoud al-Masari, director of media and communications at the Iraqi Interior Ministry, said.
"Security forces have information confirming that serious differences exist among the organisation's leaders in Iraq, which relate to doctrinal and ideological disputes concerning the nature and kind of terrorist attacks launched, and those targeted by these attacks," al-Masari said.
"There [are people in] al-Qaeda cells that do not see killing Iraqi civilians, especially children and women of the families of security men, and raids on banks and shops, as what they came for, or why they joined al-Qaeda, so they are feeling that they were misled and cheated," he added.
Abu Ghraib police chief Col. Sabah al-Falahi said two al-Qaeda leaders, Hameed al-Bakry and Salah Shehatha, were "both among the new al-Qaeda leaders wanted by the police".
"They were killed by bullets in an al-Qaeda stronghold in the Zawbaa village in Radhwaniya," he said.
"Initial investigations indicate there was a meeting inside that house, followed by a quarrel and shouts, and then shooting, which ended in the death of the two leaders and the injury of three others," al-Falahi said, citing testimonies from neighbourhood residents.
"Many bullet marks […] could be seen everywhere inside the house," he added.
Interior Ministry spokesperson Maj. Gen. Adel Dahham said the incident is a "positive sign indicating al-Qaeda is eroding from the inside, as it can no longer control the members under its command".
Hassan al-Sunaid, chairman of the Iraqi parliament's defence and security committee, said that internal disputes like these could destroy the terrorist organisation.
"Information obtained from security forces and the intelligence service point to the likelihood of serious dissentions within al-Qaeda, which could lead to the collapse of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq project," he said.
"True, pressure from security forces was a notable reason for the disorder within al-Qaeda, but the Iraqi people are the main cause, because their rejection of al-Qaeda and refusal to allow its members take up posts inside cities and residential quarters made this organisation fall into chaos and lose hope in sustaining its terrorist activities," al-Sunaid said.
Sheikh Khalaf al-Sayyad, leader of the Albu Fahd clan, to which the dead al-Qaeda leader Salah Shehatha had belonged, said, "The road of terror is very short."
"Many of us advised [Shehatha] to leave al-Qaeda, but both his mind and his heart were brainwashed," said Sheikh Khalaf al-Sayyad. "Everyone abandoned him; even his wife and children left him, and he moved among cities like scared prey."
"This is the fate of anyone who gets involved in shedding innocent blood. I believe he got his due, whether he was killed by security forces or by his cohorts in crime," al-Sayyad said.
ADD A COMMENT (COMMENT POLICY) * DENOTES REQUIRED FIELD
READER COMMENTS
سليمان العربي
2012-8-23
The role of any new Government must be the protection of the people from any risks facing the individuals and the society, whether internal or external. The elimination of lawlessness in the country should be the responsibility of the police and the military. In fact, we hear about real terrorist crimes in Iraq every day. This situation obliges the Government to develop a comprehensive project and in the long run to eradicate extremist thought as well as the terrorist groups which destroyed the country. The terrorist groups have sent a message to the community and the government, through storming the headquarters of the Anti-terrorism Directorate. The message is that the government and this directorate are not able to protect themselves, let alone the unarmed citizens. How could they protect them against the expected imminent danger? It is obvious that the protection of the people is the first responsibility of the Government. Therefore, the competent authorities must develop a plan and implement it right now with the utmost firmness and determination in order to put an end to the terrorist attacks in the country. Unfortunately, the only victims are the innocent civilians.
خيري جميل
2012-8-23
The issue of extremism is very complicated. In fact, extremism is usually attributable to exaggerated adherence to one’s own ideas and the rejection of any other thought. Extremism could appear in various issues such as religion, knowledge, and culture. It appears in discussions where participants embrace different convictions. The Islamic extremists are one of the sources of terrorism in the Arab world and one of the biggest reasons for its spread in the world. Indeed, the radical Muslims have tarnished the image of Islam with the expansion of the acts of terrorism and the resounding explosions everywhere. The extremist Islamists have spread violence in the world as a result of their ever growing hatred. They provoked violent acts such as the Crusades between Muslims and Christians and the sectarian war between Sunnis and Shiites in Iraq, Lebanon and Bahrain. Religious extremism has spread, particularly in isolated countries. However, the spread of terrorism in the communities which witness national compatibility is very dangerous. Those communities are able to contain sectarian strife and to pave the way to the eradication of terrorism as well as corruption. One of the dangers of extremism is to spread sectarian strife among the members of the community. Fortunately, there are many ways to address extremism, including religious preaching, the Friday sermons, and the support of the national anti-terrorism forces through providing them with arms and ammunition. On the other hand, Iraq should become a developed nation. In fact, Iraq is already a strong and organized country but it requires more follow-up and concerted efforts to confront terrorism and eradicate extremism. The latter is usually the major factor of violence and terror, which affect everything. Iraq is in desperate need for love, brotherhood and social peace. We must seek a comprehensive renaissance. Terrorism is a scourge that must be addressed. We must also bear in mind that religious extremism is troubling. It must be contained intellectually. We should not allow terrorists to affect our communities and their dominant culture in every civilized society. We must be more influential in putting an end to extremism which is harming our communities and spreading ruin and devastation everywhere. The terrorists affected the aspirations of the glorious people of Iraq who sought to protect their society from terrorism, destruction and oppression.
ياسر عبدالغني
2012-8-23
The Iraqi Government is entrusted with protecting its citizens. In fact, the Government should carry out its duty to protect the Iraqi people from terrorism which has recently increased. Iraq was among the most important Arab States. It used to play a major role in the region. What is currently taking place in Iraq is a kind of dissension and the country is going through internal problems. The situation is really very difficult. Iraq is a modern state and plays an important role in the Middle East. Thus, the destruction and devastation taking place in Iraq are unbearable. We must help Iraq to stand on its feet once again. The Iraqi Government needs a lot of measures and security cooperation with many countries in order to protect the country. Iraq's national security is a great responsibility of Iraqis who are struggling for the development of the Iraqi State. Iraq is a central State in the Middle East and played a major role in the renaissance of the ancient world. The Iraqi Government will play its role and protect the Iraqi people. It will support civilians who want to achieve social peace, development, evolution, renaissance, prosperity and victory in Iraq. The Iraqi people want to lead a decent life in order to achieve their aspirations and dreams. The Iraqi Government must protect the Iraqi people from terrorism.
ابو مصعب
2012-8-23
Terrorism in Iraq is really saddening. Terrorist crimes and bombings are a tragic and fatal event. The human soul which suffers from learning about killing and bombings cannot bear the horror of what is happening in Iraq. We are really suffer psychologically from what is happening in there.
ابو محمود
2012-8-23
I would like to call on the Iraqi Government and all the concerned officials in Iraq to do their utmost to serve and protect Iraqis from the terrorist crimes which terrorist are perpetrating against them every day. The Iraqi Government is aware of the extent of the suffering of their people. Therefore, I would like to stress and call on it to do its best to protect its country, even if this requires the Government to ask for help from Arab countries to protect its people or if this urges it to negotiate with terrorist countries and terrorists in order to meet the latter’s demands for the sake of its people and to provide them with the security and safety of which they have been deprived during the years of terrorism, and even to restore stability to its country and people.
ياسين خليل
2012-8-23
The governments in the world are the executive authority, which are responsible for constructing the state and saving it, so the Iraqi government is responsible for security and for protecting the Iraqis against terrorism. Progress and prosperity in any country in the world start from the development of politics in its different aspects and the gathering of all sects for one national goal. We have to know that the political structure is very important to unify society, which is difficult to penetrate as a result of unity and social solidarity. Society needs political reform, which will provide a fertile environment for the success of the security forces in keeping security inside the state. We must improve the level of security in order to achieve economic prosperity in the state. Iraq should be unified to support its government against terrorism for the success of the state. The war against terrorism is a hard effort that needs hard work and it should be the goal of all communities. The development, civilization and success begin by reforming the state and developing it. The Iraqi government is responsible for what happens in Iraq from terrorism, bombings, injustice, and oppression of the Iraqi people by following a policy of appropriate security that enables the Iraqi government to control lawlessness, find the terrorists and hand them over to justice. We should get rid of the ugly terrorism that causes destruction and ruin, and conquers the innocent, unarmed citizens. Terrorism is a cowardly and nasty activity that we should get rid of completely in order to recover communities and develop the economy and communities as well, to reach civilization and development. The war against terrorism should be global and unified from all countries and people. The Iraqi people are a historic people and with their wise government will be able to get rid of terrorism completely and to restore safety and good life for the Iraqis. We will not forget the history of Iraq, which should return after it is developed and restored to its golden age.
سليم نوري
2012-8-22
The problem of terrorism and extremism has become a very serious one that so many nations in the world suffer from and so many peoples in the world as well. Among the Arab nations that suffer from the dangers of terrorism and the existence of the dangerous terrorist groups and extremist movements, which are the mavericks of Islam, is Iraq that cries daily due to its people suffering from these terrorist attacks and stern movements that exist in it. It harmed the Iraqi citizen a lot because of the explosive operations and different killing operations that harmed the Iraqi citizen badly whether by killing him or destroying the facilities that serve him and offer him the different services he needs continuously and, thus, its lacking caused him severe suffering.
يونس سلطان
2012-8-22
The dangers of terrorism and its troubling events that are done in every nation it exists in cause a lot of sorrow and grief for the Iraqi nation and its people who suffer a lot as a consequence. Due to the harmful terrorist attacks of these extremist groups and terrorist movements that fill Iraq and that perform a lot of terrorist and extremist operations against Iraqi people, it caused so many damages to it and made it suffer a lot of these terrorist groups and extremist movements. One of the most serious danger of these extremist groups and dangerously severe terrorist movements is the kidnapping operations which are done in Iraq and caused many problems. Of course, it also has given rise to vigorous harm and increased the suffering of Iraqi people a lot. In most cases, the politicians with foreign features and from other nationalities are kidnapped. They are mostly ambassadors or counsels. Consequently, kidnapping these different nationalities and killing them by the terrorist movements and extremist groups that exist inside Iraq and in the Iraqi lands caused a lot of political issues for Iraq and its government for not being able to protect the foreign individuals who live in Iraq as their protection is the responsibility of the nation of Iraq and its government. Hence, this caused serious crises for Iraq and its people which in turn increased the suffering of the Iraqi people who cried a lot and have done a lot more for fighting all these forms of extremism.
يوسف غني
2012-8-22
The real endurance that the citizens of the beloved nation of Iraq suffer from has too many aspects and gross dangers that we want to handle a few of them here. We will not talk about the different kinds in this article, but we will commit ourselves to clarifying the suffering of the Iraqi people in only one matter of the dangerous and abnormal deeds that are done by the extremist and terrorist movements as well as the dangerous groups that practiced violence, killed the sons of the Iraqi people and violated the safety and security of the Iraqi citizens and Iraq. These dangerous operations that we want to handle in our discourse clarify the real suffering of the Iraqi people and Iraqi citizens from the dangerous terrorist explosive operations that happened in Iraq done by the dangerous extremist and terrorist movements. It caused a lot of crises and disasters for the people of Iraq and its precious nation as the explosive operations have several dangerous damages upon Iraq and Iraqi people. Of course without any doubt, the first and most dangerous problem that is caused by these serious terrorist explosions to which the Iraqi people are suffering from is the killing of Iraq’s sons. This is considered as the biggest problem that faces the Iraqi citizens, the Iraqi people and the entire nation of Iraq as the soul is the most precious thing that any people possess and the most precious thing for any nation, as the human wealth is the most important wealth on earth. Consequently, we severely denounce what is being done to the Iraqi citizens by these terrorist groups.
بديع احمد
2012-8-22
The dangers of terrorism, the extremist movements of terrorism, and the morally and religiously depraved groups that result in the unrest and cast horror in the hearts of Iraqi citizens, have become very immense and the damages are very serious. Hence, we want to direct an urgent appeal to everyone who has a heart that feels and pulses regarding what are happening on the lands of Iraq and to the Iraqi people, which is considered a real and hard suffering for the Iraqi people. Therefore, we entirely rebuke and completely blame the deeds of these terrorist movements and extremist groups in Iraq due to the severe and real suffering of the Iraqi people as a result of the explosions and terrorist accidents that are done by these terrorist groups. Here comes the major role of the Iraqi Forces, this great security Iraqi Force that has the distinguished role in protecting the Iraqi people, after Allah to Whom be ascribed all perfection and majesty, from terrorist explosions to accidents. What takes place on the lands of Iraq and to the great Iraqi people causes sorrow and grief to the whole Iraqi citizens and what follows regarding the complete destruction that causes them thorough ruin and draws off them the safety blessing that any citizen wishes to have. Therefore, we totally condemn what is happening to the honest Iraqi citizens through these dangerous extremist and terrorist movements as well as these corrupted terrorist groups that cause horror and peace disorder to Iraq’s security and the Iraqi citizens.
سعدون مازن
2012-8-20
It is natural that Islam denies terrorism and anyone who allows himself to kill any person without any guilt whether Muslim or belonging to another religion because Allah prohibited this in his Holy Book and after it, the Prophet forbade the killing of any human being unjustly let alone what is taking place in many States of bombing and the destruction of homes, the raping of women and creating fear in the hearts of the citizens. Islam is innocent of all that and of everyone who is doing this, but rather Allah promised that he who kills any human without any right will not enter paradise. However, Islam, which calls for tolerance and cooperation among the individuals and even invites fraternity between the migrants and Al Ansar, thus, does not support any terrorist operation in any State that leads to a loss of its natural wealth, the destruction of its land, and the death of thousands of its people without guilt. We have only prayers for those States that are subject to such terrorist operations that God would have mercy on them from this torment.
اياد حاتم
2012-8-17
In a few months since the departure of the previous regime, Iraq turned into an ideal haven for terrorism and terrorists, and a limited number of armed terrorist groups that appeared respectively after the fall of the regime of Saddam and its growth in a sustained manner number like the armed terrorist groups from the remnants of the regime of Saddam, mercenaries, terrorist groups, and others that leaked to Iraq through its wide borders, and a third dormant awaiting the go-ahead. In other words, terrorism came armed with generalities that should not be described through programs or even preliminaries to a program to confront the occupation. It was clear from the beginning that it believes in the method of grabbing the roles and sites by turning Iraq into fields of murder more than believing in political competition. Thus, its first practices free slaughter inspired that it is able to scare more than it is able to convince. Hence, terrorism turned into a problem for the establishment of a new political system of the State after succeeding in attracting the disgruntled and the marginalized people. After that, those looking for the opportunity to take shelter, the opportunity of reinforcement or making money infiltrated to its current and nobody can ride out before its demands and cannot remove or organize a manipulation of it as it becomes a daily challenge that must be confronted.
امير ايوب
2012-8-15
The terrorism in Iraq, that monster that attacked Iraq every day, is spreading in Iraq. The Iraqi Government should attack terrorism with all of its strength because it is one of the greatest dangers facing the great Iraqi people. The Iraqi Government must do military, economic and informational campaigns. However, these campaigns are aimed at the elimination of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Also, the Iraqi Government must boycott the countries that support terrorism. The war against terrorism leads to the depletion of the terrorists and their energies, and prevents them from forming political and military groupings with strong influence. The Iraqi Government must also spread the democracy in the various pillars of the State because this would result in the long term to an increase in the stability in Iraq and eliminate terrorism completely.
حسيب احمد
2012-8-14
The Iraqi Government should work on changing the tactics used to fight terrorism. It should also take tough measures in order to eradicate terrorism. The latter has worked on pulling down many sectors and on destroying the Iraqi future. This is in addition to the victims claimed by the crimes carried out by the groups present in Iraq. In fact, the Iraqi Security Forces fall short of their duties. We cannot say that the Iraqi Security Forces were able to eradicate terrorism. Otherwise, these bombing operations would not continue throughout Iraq. Thus, the Iraqi Forces must make further efforts in order to protect Iraqis from these operations which work on spreading fear in people’s hearts.
عباد حميد
2012-8-14
The terrorists are people who show nothing but cruelty and mercilessness in order to impose their views on others. Their only way to persuade others are bloodshed and destruction. This is their only method to impose their decisions and their desires. They are people of terrorism. They cause massive bloodshed wherever they move in the Arab countries. Indeed, they are the only ones responsible for the killing of many victims, including the innocent Iraqi citizens, who had committed no sin. Perhaps their only faults were the fact that they bear the Iraqi nationality and that they preferred to resist and to face the enemy. They did not escape as did others. Therefore, the Iraqi Government must implement stricter policies and impose the most severe penalties on those criminals. These people are committing their crimes under the guise of religion. They claim that they are killing, destroying and spreading devastation wherever they existed for the sake of God and nothing but God. In fact, they have committed all their crimes to achieve their only and supreme goal, access to power. They aim to rule all the Arab countries in a progressive way. Today their members are attacking the territory of the glorious Iraq. Tomorrow, they will target all the Arab countries. This is the ultimate goal of all the raids carried out by those terrorist organizations. At first they play the role of the angels who came from different countries of the world in order to make the appropriate reforms. Suddenly, they turn it into bloodshed and destroying everything. Again, they claim that they are serving the Islamic religion. They spread fear and fright among the Iraqi citizens, aiming to destroy this great nation. They believe that fear would make the Iraqi people an easy prey for them.
بهاء علي
2012-8-13
The brotherly Iraq has recently suffered a lot from terrorist organizations. Indeed, this nation was targeted by many attacks through booby trapped cars owned by terrorists. Many Iraqi citizens have died in such attacks. This type of operations shows the growing of such terrorist organizations. These terrorist organizations are today able to conduct a careful planning which enables the terrorist members to sneak amid the masses of the Iraqi Free Army in order to carry out the bombing operations. Such well planned operations show the abilities and the tyranny of these organizations. They also show the magnitude of funds that those terrorist organizations receive from other countries which are really influential. Those countries are seeking the devastation, destruction, collapse and disintegration of all the great Arab nations. These countries know quite well the potential that lies in the land of the Arabs. The Arabs’ power might be directed against these nations provided that the Arab countries get united in order to achieve a common objective. Then, they glorious Arab nations could prevail over their enemies.
جبار وهاب
2012-8-12
We have to be united and work together to achieve the same objectives, which is supporting Iraq and saving it from the hands of the criminal terrorists and the terrorist organizations that take the religion as a cover, while they apply nothing of the religion of God. they became like the brothers of the devils and they sought behind the blood and killed the poor youth who have no power to retaliate or even defend themselves because they are armless, while the terrorists are criminal militants. It seems that they forgot or pretend that they forget that there would be a final day when all people would be punished for what he did in his life. following the murder of Osama bin Laden, the chance of the Arabs regarding defeating the terrorist organizations became greater than ever. This is a golden chance for the Arabs to be united and to and destroy the terrorist organizations forever. The real chance of survival does not come every day and we should utilize it before these organizations restore their destructive abilities again.
اثير اكرم
2012-8-12
The terrorist forces have recently adopted a new pattern of attacks that leaves more victims. Recently, the terrorist organizations carried out a series of the destructive bombings using the car bombs that are filled with the destructive explosives and which are used amidst the gatherings of the Iraqi citizens or Special Forces, as they are the strongest in confronting them. Hence, the terrorist forces try to eliminate the Iraqi people in all possible ways and they do not waste time in peace or the feeling of security. They carry out their criminal and murderous operations in different locations and according to different plans, but unified policies. The essence of their strategy is to control the Iraqi citizens through planting fear in their hearts because of the operations of murder and massacres as well as the successive bombings until they make sure that the situation became in favor of their interests and that it does not usurp their competence. Thence, they would start destroying the Iraqi state mercilessly and irrevocably. There is no doubt that all the tools of the terrorist organizations are very expensive, while they are no more than a group of poor mercenaries who belong to all countries of the world to achieve success even once in their road, which is full of blood and murder. However, those mercenaries are poor and they have to find financers to provide them with money to continue their war and destruction. Those financers are evil states that realize very well how the Arabs will look like if they became united regarding supporting any case. Hence, they started destroying the Arab states completely at the hands of the malicious corrupt terrorists, criminals, and mercenaries.
وسيم ناصح
2012-8-10
I strongly, violently, worriedly, and sadly demand the Iraqi government to take stronger stance against the extremist terrorist organizations, which are widely spread all over the world, particularly in Iraq. The government must apply the laws strictly against all those who want to trade in the people or harm the people of the society. The government must resist any interference from any parties whatsoever; because the government does not know its enemy and whether it is a group of the terrorists or a group of powers that have greedy aspirations that exceed the expectations of the government. The government is also required to put the plans, maps, and military supplies to stop any terrorist or extremist attack against the facilities of the state, banks, and gold shops. The government must confront these terrorist movements in cooperation with all Iraqis. no Iraqi should ever help the terrorists in any way such as helping them to escape when the security forces or armed forces chase them; quite the contrary, the true Iraqi citizen should help those forces to arrests the escaping terrorists.
محمد ااااااااااااااااااااااااااااام
2012-8-9
In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful! The blood of the innocent people will not go in vain. The robe (strength) of criminality is short. This is the fate of the criminal tyrants. Long live the heroic security men who stay awake at night to preserve the security of the nation and citizen. Long live the free proud Iraq! Death to the murderous killers!