Release A050806a

Terrorist letter claims poor leadership in Mosul

Multi-National Force-Iraq

MOSUL , IRAQ – Security Forces detained six suspected terrorists and seized a number of items including a letter written to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi while conducting a raid on a safe house in Mosul July 27.

In the letter to al-Zarqawi the author, Abu Zayd, a terrorist operating out of Mosul , complained of the poor leadership in Mosul and mistreatment of foreign fighters.

Abu Zayd informs in his letter to the “Sheikh” that, “This is a clarification of what has become of the situation in Mosul, and it is no secret to you the noticeable decrease in the attacks carried out by the Mujahidin, from not long ago when Mosul was in the hands of the Mujahidin…” Abu Zayd continues by listing the multiple reasons why the “Mujahidin” have been less effective recently.

Abu Zayd claims that the Mosul Emirs are incompetent; attacks lack diversity; suicide bombings are focused more on quantity and not quality; those who are in the network are disobedient; a legitimate organization in Mosul does not exist; collaboration between the Emirs is lacking; “Muslim money” is squandered on petty expenses; numerous security violations occur; “inaccurate and blurred” updates to the Sheikh are reported; and foreign fighters endure “deplorable” conditions to include lack of pay, housing problems and marginalization.

Similar complaints to the “Sheikh” regarding lack of leadership were found in a letter written by a known terrorist cell leader who fought in Fallujah. Multi-National forces found this letter, authored by Abu Asim al-Qusaymi al-Yemeni and dated Apr. 27, during a raid in Baghdad in May.

Abu Zayd proposed a few solutions to the many problems he outlined to include a warning that if focus and pursuit of development is not provided to Mosul , “…the fall of Mosul in the hands of the Mujahidin is possible, and because it relieves the pressure off the other cities such as Al-Qa'im, Tal'afar.”

In recent months Multi-National Forces have captured or killed many of the key leaders of terrorism in Mosul, to include Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's most trusted military commander, Muhammed Khalaf Shakara, aka Abu Talha. Security Forces captured Abu Talha, the former Mosul Emir of Al Qaeda in Iraq , in Mosul June 14.

Abu Talha and his organization are responsible for attacks against Iraqi citizens, Iraqi Security Forces and Multi-National Forces. Abu Talha used improvised explosive devices and suicide bombings to suppress local citizens and was known to have assassinated local clerics, governmental officials, businessmen, and citizens who protested his intimidation tactics.

Within a month after the significant capture of Abu Talha, Security forces detained two other key terrorist leaders in Mosul , Abu Bara and Mullah Mehdi. Abu Bara served as a facilitator of suicide bombings and was affiliated with many of the cells within the Talha network. Abu Bara was a former sub-commander of Al Qaida Emir of Mosul , Abu Talha, but replaced Talha after he was captured June 14. Mullah Mehdi was a senior leader within the Talha network and the military leader of all insurgents operating in eastern Mosul .

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE TASK FORCE FREEDOM, MULTINATIONAL FORCE-NORTHWEST PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER, LT. COL. ANDRE HANCE, AT ANDRE.HANCE@MNBNW.IRAQ.ARMY.MIL