Not only did the U.S. Special Forces kill their intended target in the Syrian raid, al Qaeda leader Abu Ghadiya, but they got the bulk of the other al Qaeda leadership in Syria in the same sweep.
Here's some of the details from The Long War Journal:
I mentioned yesterday that all of the intelligence about Ghadiya and his operation had been retrieved when one of their key operatives had been killed in Iraq and you can see by this just how patient and persistent U.S. intelligence can be - they waited and waited, all the time gathering more and more intel until this apparently was the day when all of the scum were together in one place.
When the details are fully disclosed on this operation, the world is going to find out just what a death machine the U.S. has in Task Force 88 - and what precision and execution they conducted this raid.
Here's some of the details from The Long War Journal:
Al Qaeda leader Abu Ghadiya was killed in yesterday's strike inside Syria, a senior US military intelligence official told The Long War Journal. But US special operations forces also inflicted a major blow to al Qaeda's foreign fighter network based in Syria. The entire senior leadership of Ghadiya's network was also killed in the raid, the official stated.The Syrian propaganda machine has been alleging that a Syrian family was killed in this raid and as you can see, the only "family" is the al Qaeda family of death. Haha. Good riddance.
Ghadiya was the leader of al Qaeda extensive network that funnels foreign fighters, weapons, and cash from Syria into Iraq along the entire length of the Syrian border. Ghadiya was first identified as the target of the raid inside Syria late last night here at The Long War Journal. The Associated Press reported Ghadiya was killed in the raid earlier today.
Several US helicopters entered the town of town of Sukkariya near Abu Kamal in eastern Syria, just five miles from the Iraqi border. US commandos from the hunter-killer teams of Task Force 88 clear the buildings sheltering Ghadiya and his staff.
Those killed include Ghadiya's brother and two cousins. "They also were part of the senior leadership," the official stated. "They're dead. We've decapitated the network." Others killed during the raid were not identified.
I mentioned yesterday that all of the intelligence about Ghadiya and his operation had been retrieved when one of their key operatives had been killed in Iraq and you can see by this just how patient and persistent U.S. intelligence can be - they waited and waited, all the time gathering more and more intel until this apparently was the day when all of the scum were together in one place.
When the details are fully disclosed on this operation, the world is going to find out just what a death machine the U.S. has in Task Force 88 - and what precision and execution they conducted this raid.
US strike in Syria "decapitated" al Qaeda's facilitation network
Ghadiya, whose real name is Badran Turki Hishan Al Mazidih, was an Iraqi from Mosul. He was working as an al Qaeda logistics coordinator in Syria since 2004, when he was appointed to the position by Abu Musab al Zarqawi. After Zarqawi's death, he "took orders directly, or through a deputy" from Abu Ayyub al Masri, al Qaeda's current leader in Iraq,
Ghazy Was Ghadiya's "right-hand man," the Treasury stated. "As second-in command, Ghazy worked directly with [Ghadiya], managed network operations, and acted as the commander for [Ghadiya's] AQI [al Qaeda in Iraq] network when [Ghadiya] traveled."
Akram directed al Qaeda operations along with Ghadiya in the Al Qaim region right on the border with Syria. He smuggled weapons from Syria into Iraq, and ordered "the execution of AQI's enemies," Treasury stated. "Akram also ordered the execution of all persons found to be working with the Iraqi Government or US Forces."
Marsumi was an al Qaeda financier who "facilitated the financing and smuggling of AQI foreign fighters from Syria into Iraq." He helped Syrian suicide bombers enter Iraq, and also wired hundreds of thousands of dollars to Ghadiya to facilitate operations.
All four men lived openly inside Syria. The US Treasury identified Ghadiya, Ghazy, and Akram as living in Zabadani. Marsumi lived in the village of Al Shajlah.
A senior US general and the Iraqi spokesmen both noted that al Qaeda leaders were openly living inside Syria, and the Syrian government did nothing to shut down the network.
"The attacked area was the scene of activities of terrorist groups operating from Syria against Iraq," Ali al Dabbagh, Iraq's spokesman told Reuters. "Iraq had asked Syria to hand over this group which uses Syria as a base for its terrorist activities."
Major General John Kelly, the commander of Multinational Force - West, described Syria as "problematic" during a briefing on Oct. 23. "The Iraqi security forces and the Iraqi intelligence forces feel that al Qaeda operatives and others operate, live pretty openly on the Syrian side," Kelly said. "
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