Abu Omar al-Kurdi
Encyclopedia
Abu Omar al-Kurdi, real name Sami Muhammad Ali Said al-Jaaf, was a top bombmaker for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
's organization in Iraq
, Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. He was captured in January 2005.
According to US and Iraqi officials, al-Kurdi was a veteran of training camps in Afghanistan
and became a chief bombmaker of Zarqawi's group in 2003. Reportedly, al-Kurdi was able to assemble his bombs using hundreds of rockets and explosives another operative, Ammar al-Zubaydi, had stolen from Iraqi warehouses early in the war
.
When he was captured in a January 15, 2005, raid in Baghdad
(announced ten days later), officials said he was responsible for making 75% of the car bombs in Iraq from August 2003, and he was said to confess to 32 of them. Among these were: the Jordan
ian embassy bombing, the bombing of U.N. Headquarters
, the killing of Ayatollah
Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
, the bombing of the Italian
base in Nasiriyah
, and the bombing which killed Izzedin Salim, head of the Iraqi Governing Council
.
Officials said that al-Kurdi was planning attacks against polling centers during the January 30, 2005 elections. He also provided information about Zarqawi's movements, hiding places, and communications methods.
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi ; October 30, 1966 – June 7, 2006), born Ahmad Fadeel al-Nazal al-Khalayleh was a Jordanian militant Islamist who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan...
's organization in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, Jama'at al-Tawhid wal-Jihad. He was captured in January 2005.
According to US and Iraqi officials, al-Kurdi was a veteran of training camps in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and became a chief bombmaker of Zarqawi's group in 2003. Reportedly, al-Kurdi was able to assemble his bombs using hundreds of rockets and explosives another operative, Ammar al-Zubaydi, had stolen from Iraqi warehouses early in the war
2003 invasion of Iraq
The 2003 invasion of Iraq , was the start of the conflict known as the Iraq War, or Operation Iraqi Freedom, in which a combined force of troops from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Poland invaded Iraq and toppled the regime of Saddam Hussein in 21 days of major combat operations...
.
When he was captured in a January 15, 2005, raid in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
(announced ten days later), officials said he was responsible for making 75% of the car bombs in Iraq from August 2003, and he was said to confess to 32 of them. Among these were: the Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
ian embassy bombing, the bombing of U.N. Headquarters
Canal Hotel Bombing
The Canal Hotel Bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, in the afternoon of August 19, 2003, killed at least 22 people, including the United Nations' Special Representative in Iraq Sérgio Vieira de Mello, and wounded over 100. The blast targeted the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq created just 5 days...
, the killing of Ayatollah
Ayatollah
Ayatollah is a high ranking title given to Usuli Twelver Shī‘ah clerics. Those who carry the title are experts in Islamic studies such as jurisprudence, ethics, and philosophy and usually teach in Islamic seminaries. The next lower clerical rank is Hojatoleslam wal-muslemin...
Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Mohammed Baqir al-Hakim
Ayatollah Sayed Mohammad Baqir al-Hakim , also known as Shaheed al-Mehraab was one of the foremost Twelver Shi'a Muslim leaders in Iraq until his assassination in a bombing in Najaf...
, the bombing of the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
base in Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah
Nasiriyah is a city in Iraq. It is on the Euphrates about 225 miles southeast of Baghdad, near the ruins of the ancient city of Ur. It is the capital of the province of Dhi Qar...
, and the bombing which killed Izzedin Salim, head of the Iraqi Governing Council
Iraqi Governing Council
The Iraqi Governing Council was the provisional government of Iraq from July 13, 2003 to June 1, 2004. It was established by and served under the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority...
.
Officials said that al-Kurdi was planning attacks against polling centers during the January 30, 2005 elections. He also provided information about Zarqawi's movements, hiding places, and communications methods.
External links
- US captures 'top Zarqawi ally' – BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
- Abu Omar al-Kurdi, aka Sami Mohammed Ali Said al-Jaaf - Iraqi Kurd