The Iraqi government announced today that they captured a key lieutenant of terrorist mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi last month -- a man responsible for dozens of car-bombings in the Sunni Triangle:

Iraqi forces have captured one of al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's top bomb-makers in Iraq, the prime minister's spokesman said Monday.

Sami Mohammed al-Jafi, known as Abu Omar al-Kurdi, is accused of being behind some 32 car bombings since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, it said. ...

Iraqi forces said they also captured another insurgent earlier this month, Nayef Abbas al-Zubaydi, who heads the Abu Talha group linked to the Jordanian militant Zarqawi in the lawless northern city of Mosul, Naqib said.

Zubaydi, known as Abu Moawiya, was captured barely two weeks after the arrest of the previous leader of the group, Zain Abdallah Salah Khalaf al-Jib, or Abu Karam.

The rate of captures in Iraq continues to climb, even though the leader has thus far eluded their grasp. Chances are that these two high-level captures are what led to the rumors of Zarqawi's arrest this weekend, but it still shows that momentum remains on the side of the interim government and the Iraqi elections. Note the second arrest and the timing involved; the quick identification and acquisition of Abu Karam's replacement indicates a high level of intelligence on insurgent operations.

The insurgents are running out of time and leadership in their race to stop the completion of Iraq's liberation from tyranny. Zarqawi's public statements of total war still indicate a high level of danger, but an even higher level of desperation.

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» Getting down to the wire... from Milblog
And who will win? The 'insurgents' who want anarchy and chaos, or the people of Iraq - who are targeted by the 'insurgents'? I'm thinking it's going to be the Iraqi people.Captain's Quarters The rate of captures in Iraq continues... [Read More]

Tracked on January 24, 2005 11:48 AM

» Zarqawi Lieutenants Captured from Josh's Weblog
Leading up to the Iraqi elections, we hear from Captain Ed that two more Zarqawi associates have been captured. I certainly appreciate that efforts to squash the leadership of the terrorist arm of the Iraqi insurgency continues apace. Many believe... [Read More]

Tracked on January 24, 2005 1:30 PM