TERROR WATCH

Targeting a 'Facilitator'

A commando raid into Syria aimed at Al Qaeda in Iraq.

Published Oct 27, 2008

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An alleged senior operative of Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) was the target of the U.S. cross-border commando raid into Syria over the weekend, U.S. counterterrorism sources have told NEWSWEEK. The sources said that there are indications that the alleged target, an Iraqi-born militant known as Abu Ghadiyah, was killed during the operation.

According to news reports from the region, including this report from The Associated Press, the Syrian government says that four U.S. helicopters flew into Syria from Iraq on Sunday in a U.S. special-forces operation targeted at an Al Qaeda encampment. The target was believed by the United States to be a transit point for Islamic militants seeking to enter Iraq to join with Al Qaeda forces there.

The Syrian government claimed that the American raiders had attacked a civilian building that was still under construction—and that eight people were killed during the raid. Syrian officials described the attack an "act of aggression." Some news accounts reported that there were U.S. forces on the ground in the area as part of the raid. A villager told the AP that two men were taken into custody by the Americans and were airlifted out by helicopter.

The U.S. government sources, who asked for anonymity discussing sensitive information, said that the alleged target of the raid, Abu Ghadiyah, had been known to American forces in Iraq for some time. They viewed him as an important terrorist "facilitator" whose role in the Iraqi insurgency was to arrange for "foreign fighters"—Islamic militants from a swath of countries ranging from the Middle East to North Africa to Europe—to travel via Syria into Iraq so they could fight there with Al Qaeda in Iraq. The sources declined to elaborate on why they believe Abu Ghadiyah is dead.

According to a press release issued by the Treasury Departmentearlier this year, Abu Ghadiyah, born Badran Turki Hishan al-Mazdih, is about 30 years old. In 2004, he became AQI's "Syrian commander for logistics," controlling a pipeline moving "money, weapons, terrorists and other resources" through Syria into Iraq, according to the Treasury statement. Abu Ghadiyah was appointed as the Syrian logistics chief for AQI by the terror group's founder, Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, a notoriously violent Jordanian who was killed in June 2006 in a U.S. airstrike on a house north of Baghdad where he was reportedly meeting with fellow militants.

According to the Treasury, after Zarqawi's death, Abu Ghadiyah began working for AQI's leader, an Egyptian known as Abu Ayyub al-Masri. Treasury claimed that as of two years ago, Abu Ghadiyah reported either directly to the AQI leader or through a deputy. Abu Ghadiyah's activities included obtaining cash, false passports and guides for foreign fighters and arranging for weapons and safe houses for them as they prepare to cross into Iraq from Syria.

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Posted By: boscodad @ 11/30/2008 9:32:15 PM

Gentleman, I appreciate the pain you feel after serving, anf the horro you saw. yes I agree, the ladies in this country who have never served in combat should be sent to the front to espouse their ridiculous ideas. I am sure AQI would love to spill their blood. And by ladies i mean the non-serving """""men"""" in this country. Look at all the major civilizations of History, and the citizen soldier is the builder and backbone of that society. when you quit using citizen soldiers (example the American settlers/farmers who were revolutionary war/civil war troops) you loose the edge that makes your society great. Is this why Rome fell?? Why Greece fell? I work for a company ( a world wide company) who's CEO sent out greeting to members of the armed forces who are currently serving overseas on Veterans Day. Nice, but he didnt aknowledge any other conflict or service, strange. but it just goes to show how true you comments about civilians not being in touch with the people who protect them. As a former Marine Sergeant 5th Maines I Corps Vietnam I salute you. and agree with you. semper fi
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Posted By: tbizzle7861 @ 11/14/2008 4:57:16 PM

Do you know what you have just committed is treason? In this country we no longer punish treason cause we all have the freedom of speech, but in other countries (especially Sryia) they would cut out your tongue and then kill your family in front of you and then they would remove your head with a knife. Not a sword or an axe. A KNIFE. That takes some time to get through the neck so you can suffer before you die. So if you think it is so bad in America, take your views and live there. I am sure you wouldn't come back alive.
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Posted By: tbizzle7861 @ 11/14/2008 4:53:33 PM

Thank you for saying that. I have served a total of 6 years overseas, and I agree with every word you said. I am sure that both of us have seen things that people just will not understand or comprehend. And really they don't know why we do it. They will never wrap their heads around the fact that there will probably never be peace in our life times, and without peace there will be wars everyday. What they also don't understand is that we have to do what we have to do to survive, and ensure that the American way of life continues. And you and I are the ones that have stepped up to make sure that happens. I thank you for saying what needed to be said, and I thank you for standing up for our country. It doesn't seem like too many people want to these days.