16 January 2004
Update on Capture of Key Iraqi Resistance Leader in Fallujah
Former regional Ba'ath Party leader has been "extremely cooperative"
The recent capture of one of Iraq's most-wanted former regime leaders completes a months-long goal for U.S. forces, according to a military news release.
Khamis Sirhan Bashir Al-Muhammed was the top Ba'ath Party leader in the province of al-Anbar, which includes the cities of Fallujah, Khalidiyah and Ramadi. The Defense Department had placed him as No. 54 on its list of the 55 most wanted former regime leaders.
Khamis Sirhan was captured by elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and Special Operations Forces on January 11. According to a release by the Combined Joint Task Force 7, Operation Iraqi Freedom, he had been the top target of the 82nd Airborne for several months.
"These efforts included eight previous raids on known and suspected safe houses, culminating in the final successful mission in the hours of darkness of January 11," according to the news release.
Khamis Sirhan was sought because he was considered to be "responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and financing numerous anti-coalition attacks. He is also suspected of involvement in acts of sabotage against the power, oil, fuel and rail infrastructure since the fall of the former dictator's regime," according to the release.
Following is the text of the news release:
(begin text)
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Combined Joint Task Force 7
January 15, 2004
Task Force "All-American" Captures Key Resistance Leader In Al Fallujah -- Update
RAMADI, Iraq -— On 11 January, 2004, elements of the 82d Airborne Division combined with Special Operations Forces conducted a coordinated mission in Fallujah. The purpose of this particular mission was to capture black list No. 54, Khamis Sirhan Bashir Al-Muhammed. The mission was a success: Khamis Sirhan was captured and there were no friendly casualties.
The 82d Airborne Division has been tracking Khamis Sirhan and he has been the Division's No. 1 target for a number of months. Khamis Sirhan was the key regional former regime element leader in Al Anbar province, to include Fallujah, Khalidiyah and Ramadi. He was responsible for coordinating, facilitating, and financing numerous anti-coalition attacks. He is also suspected of involvement in acts of sabotage against the power, oil, fuel and rail infrastructure since the fall of the former dictator's regime.
Khamis Sirhan was meticulously tracked down over the last several months. Sirhan had been on the run, moving frequently as coalition forces pursued him. Through precise raids, the capture of Sirhan's associates, the intelligence gained from them, and the aggressive publication of the enhanced rewards program, Task Force All American was able to eliminate Sirhan's avenues of escape and places of sanctuary. These efforts included eight previous raids on known and suspected safe houses, culminating in the final successful mission in the hours of darkness of January 11, 2004.
Sirhan has been extremely cooperative since his capture and continues to provide valuable information. From interrogation, it was confirmed that Sirhan was a prominent founding member of the Ba'ath Party and the regional commander of the Al-Anbar Foreign Regime Element (FRE) and radical Islamist resistance. He has provided names and places of key individuals associated with the FRE cells and Foreign Fighter (FF) cells. Since his capture, Task Force All American has captured two former Iraqi General Officers involved in anti-coalition activities and a total of 41 other security internees.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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