U.S. troops in Iraq arrest senior leader of group with alleged ties to Al Qaeda

Published October 14th, 2003 - 02:00 GMT
Al Bawaba
Al Bawaba

In Iraq, U.S. forces have captured one of the most high-ranking members of Ansar al-Islam, a group suspected of having links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network, U.S. defense officials said Tuesday.  

 

The arrest of Aso Hawleri, also known as Assad Mohammad Hasan, late last week in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has not been announced.  

 

He was taken by soldiers of the 101st Airborne Division, a defense official said, on condition of anonymity.  

 

The capture netted several others besides Hawleri, the official said, adding that there apparently was not a gunfight.  

 

The officials, cited by AP said Hawleri is thought to be the third-ranking official in Ansar al-Islam. (Albawaba.com)

© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

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