Iraqi and U.S. troops killed a regional leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq today, the third top terrorist reported killed in that country in the past 24 hours.
An Iraqi military spokesman, Qassim al-Musawi, said U.S. and Iraqi joint forces launched a morning attack in the northern province of Niniveh, killing suspected insurgent leader Ahmed al-Obeidi.
Al-Musawi said the slain insurgent, known as Abu Suhaib, was in charge of Al-Qaeda in Iraq's operations in the provinces of Kirkuk, Salahuddin, and Niniveh.
On April 19, the Iraqi government said two top Al-Qaeda leaders -- Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri -- were killed in a joint operation with the U.S. forces.
Meanwhile, five family members of a local chief of an anti-Qaeda militia were gunned down today in their homes in Tarmiyah, some 45 kilometers north of Baghdad.
The wife, a daughter of 22 years old, and three boys of between 12 and 16 were shot dead and the last three were also beheaded.
The Al-Sahwa (Awakening) militia, made up by Sunni Arab tribes, switched allegiances to join American and Iraqi forces in fighting insurgents in 2006 and 2007.
compiled from agency reports
An Iraqi military spokesman, Qassim al-Musawi, said U.S. and Iraqi joint forces launched a morning attack in the northern province of Niniveh, killing suspected insurgent leader Ahmed al-Obeidi.
Al-Musawi said the slain insurgent, known as Abu Suhaib, was in charge of Al-Qaeda in Iraq's operations in the provinces of Kirkuk, Salahuddin, and Niniveh.
On April 19, the Iraqi government said two top Al-Qaeda leaders -- Abu Omar al-Baghdadi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri -- were killed in a joint operation with the U.S. forces.
Meanwhile, five family members of a local chief of an anti-Qaeda militia were gunned down today in their homes in Tarmiyah, some 45 kilometers north of Baghdad.
The wife, a daughter of 22 years old, and three boys of between 12 and 16 were shot dead and the last three were also beheaded.
The Al-Sahwa (Awakening) militia, made up by Sunni Arab tribes, switched allegiances to join American and Iraqi forces in fighting insurgents in 2006 and 2007.
compiled from agency reports