Determined manhunt leads to major catch: Iraqi terrorist leader wanted for murders, kidnappings, assassination attempts and intimidation

Blackanthem Military News, BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 06, 2006 7:22

ABU AYMAN PRIOR TO HIS CAPTURE. DATE OF PHOTO UNKNOWN. (OFFICIAL FILE PHOTO).

Iraqi terrorist leader Muhammed Hila Hammad Ubaydi, aka Abu Ayman, was captured and arrested by Iraqi Forces in the Al Mahmudiyah neighborhood in southern Baghdad March 7. Investigators held notice of this capture until now due to DNA testing, which has confirmed this is Abu Ayman. Ayman’s capture was the result of a determined manhunt conducted by Iraqi intelligence professionals and several intelligence agencies within the Coalition.

Until his capture, Abu Ayman, the former aide to the Chief of Staff of Intelligence during the Saddam Hussein regime, was the leader of the Secret Islamic Army in the Northern Babil Province. Abu Ayman has strong ties to terror leader Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, still considered the head of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Abu Ayman is the prime suspect in the kidnapping of Italian journalist Guiliana Sgrena and for assassination attempts on Iraqi Government and Iraqi Security Forces officials.

Abu Ayman is also the prime suspect in the kidnapping and killing of several hostages in Iraq and for committing some of the most lethal IED attacks on Coalition and Iraqi Forces and on Iraqi citizens since the fall of the regime.

Iraqi and Coalition Forces consider Abu Ayman’s capture significant in their pursuit to lay to rest the terror cells that have caused death and destruction in Iraq.

Officials believe Abu Ayman’s capture will not only disrupt some of these attacks, and that his capture will undoubtedly save lives, but that he will also provide valuable information leading to the capture of other terrorists he has worked with in the past.

Abu Ayman’s lieutenant Abu Qatada, a Syrian born terrorist who was wanted for multiple IED attacks, the assassinations of two Iraqi government council members, and the murders of several truck drivers in order to use their trucks in vehicle borne IED attacks, was captured by Iraqi and Coalition Forces on Dec. 27 during a raid on his house where Abu Qatada was found hiding in a nearby canal. In the months following his capture Abu Qatada has provided valuable information on the Abu Ayman terror network.

The Iraqi Central Investigating Court in Baghdad had issued an arrest warrant for Abu Ayman on Oct. 17, citing his violation of Iraqi Penal Code 194 -- committing terrorist acts.

By MULTI-NATIONAL FORCE-IRAQ
JOINT INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE-HIGH VALUE INDIVIDUALS
BAGHDAD, Iraq