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Replacement Terror Leader Killed (Already)?

Via Captain's Quarters, CENTCOM has reportedly announced that Mansur al-Mashhadani, one of Zarqawi's apparent successors, has joined his jihadi forebear in pushing up thistles.

The al Qaeda in Iraq leadership on-deck circle must be losing some of its appeal by now.  Rod Roddy, who's our next contestant?

No wire service confirmation of the story yet, and there's some question as to the identity of the departed, but updates will appear as they become available.

Elsewhere:  Say Anything, The Politburo Diktat, The Strata-Sphere, Blogs for Bush

Update:   CQ updates that CENTCOM has issued a press release stating that a senior member of al Qaeda in Iraq and three lesser terrorists have been "detained".  This could be referring to one and the same individual as the above, though detaining an al Qaeda leader obviously isn't mutually exclusive with having killed another.  Let's hope this means we got more than one of the big fish.  CQ's original post stated the CENTCOM spokesman was showing before and after pictures of Mansur, which would tend to support the possibility of a multi-bagger day.

Update:  Another press release issued today by CENTCOM details a separate operation north of Baquoba that dispatched 15 terrorists and rounded up 3 others.  It's possible Mansur was among those killed in this rooftop shootout, as the report states, "The raids were targeting individuals associated with a suspected senior al-Qaida in Iraq network member targeted in previous Coalition operations."

Update:   Or it's possible that Mashhadani died in a raid on Friday (as CQ notes the BBC has recently updated), distinct from yesterday's raid that killed 1 and captured 3, and today's operation that killed 15 and captured 3 more.  While the details shake out, we can delight in the fact that we appear to be bringing down terror leaders at an impressive clip.  Maj. Gen. William Caldwell says of Mashhadani, "He was a right-hand man to Zarqawi."

Update:  Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Operation Mountain Thrust is paying big dividends as well.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces continued their assault on insurgents in northern Helmand Province on June 19, killing five insurgents and a possible Taliban leader as part of Operation Mountain Thrust.

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Replacement Terror Leader Killed (Already)?

Via Captain's Quarters, CENTCOM has reportedly announced that Mansur al-Mashhadani, one of Zarqawi's apparent successors, has joined his jihadi forebear in pushing up thistles.

The al Qaeda in Iraq leadership on-deck circle must be losing some of its appeal by now.  Rod Roddy, who's our next contestant?

No wire service confirmation of the story yet, and there's some question as to the identity of the departed, but updates will appear as they become available.

Elsewhere:  Say Anything, The Politburo Diktat, The Strata-Sphere, Blogs for Bush

Update:   CQ updates that CENTCOM has issued a press release stating that a senior member of al Qaeda in Iraq and three lesser terrorists have been "detained".  This could be referring to one and the same individual as the above, though detaining an al Qaeda leader obviously isn't mutually exclusive with having killed another.  Let's hope this means we got more than one of the big fish.  CQ's original post stated the CENTCOM spokesman was showing before and after pictures of Mansur, which would tend to support the possibility of a multi-bagger day.

Update:  Another press release issued today by CENTCOM details a separate operation north of Baquoba that dispatched 15 terrorists and rounded up 3 others.  It's possible Mansur was among those killed in this rooftop shootout, as the report states, "The raids were targeting individuals associated with a suspected senior al-Qaida in Iraq network member targeted in previous Coalition operations."

Update:   Or it's possible that Mashhadani died in a raid on Friday (as CQ notes the BBC has recently updated), distinct from yesterday's raid that killed 1 and captured 3, and today's operation that killed 15 and captured 3 more.  While the details shake out, we can delight in the fact that we appear to be bringing down terror leaders at an impressive clip.  Maj. Gen. William Caldwell says of Mashhadani, "He was a right-hand man to Zarqawi."

Update:  Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, Operation Mountain Thrust is paying big dividends as well.

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Afghan and Coalition forces continued their assault on insurgents in northern Helmand Province on June 19, killing five insurgents and a possible Taliban leader as part of Operation Mountain Thrust.