Abu Hamza al-Muhajer Taking Credit For Murders

Update: There also appears to be another senior al-Qaeda leader in custody.

A U.S airstrike June 16 killed Mansur al-Mashhadani, the top al Qaeda religious leader in Iraq, a U.S. military spokesman said June 20. Al-Mashhdani, who was close to former al Qaeda in Iraq leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was killed while attempting to flee U.S. forces near the town of Yusufiya, the same area where two U.S. soldiers were kidnapped and killed.

See CQ for that report.

It's impossible to tell if this claim is legitimate at this point. Unfortunately, if it was him and he wants credit for it, that may mean there will be video or images to come.

At the same time, once we put aside the horror, there may be some things we can deduce from this. al-Muhajer may have challengers for control in the region, thus the need to come out so shockingly, so quickly. It could also be seen as something of a desperate act of intimidation, implying al-Qaeda is indeed under pressure.

While the assault which led to the kidnappings was able enough, it was still something of a careless act. If he's wreck-less, al-Muhajer won't last nearly as long as Zarqawi did.

I hope our military command is determined to take it to the terrorists in Iraq as ruthlessly and, still, effectively as possible. We can't fight a politically correct war and win.

The new leader of al-Qaida in Iraq killed two U.S. soldiers whom the group abducted last week, an insurgent umbrella group said in a Web statement posted Tuesday.

The statement, which could not be authenticated, said the two soldiers were "slaughtered," suggesting they had been beheaded by Abu Hamza al- Muhajer. The Arabic word used in the statement, "nahr," is used for the slaughtering of sheep by cutting the throat and has been used in past statements to refer to beheadings.

The claim of responsibility was posted on an Islamic militant Web site where insurgent groups regularly post statements.

If true, it would be the first act of violence attributed to al- Muhajer since he was named al-Qaida in Iraq's new leader in a June 12 Web message by the group. He succeeded Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike on June 7.

Comments

[chip]

Dan:

more truly sad news today.....thanks for covering it

[annie]

I am hoping and praying that the evil dogs who have done this barbarity to these young men will not be taken alive and allowed to have a trial, with all the trappings.

Why should anybody have to pay the costs for these dogs to have lawyers, air conditioned cells, good food, and whatever else the politically correct idiots would suggest they have??

However, I would contribute to the cost of a few bullets to finish them off, and even that would be too good and quick for the likes of these foul, evil dogs!!

[kate]

Evan Kohlmann also claims no proof yet that al Muhajir did it. (counter terrorism blog)