Al-Qaeda leader killed in Southern Iraq

A prominent al-Qaeda leader operating in Baghdad has been killed, the Iraqi army announced.  "Taha Ithawi was killed in a joint security operation in the city of Mosul on Friday evening," read a statement issued by the Iraqi army. "According to intelligence information, the force killed, Taha al-Ethawi, after armed clashes that did not result in injuring any one of the security elements," the Commander of the 17th Division of the Iraqi Army, General Nasir al-Ghanam, stated. "Ethawi is accused on planning and implementing terrorist armed operations through bombs and car bombs in Baghdad and the areas around it," he concluded. South Baghdad has been subjected to numerous attacks against civilians and security officers, carried out by al-Qaeda.