BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition Forces positively identified a terrorist killed in an operation April 20 northwest of Baghdad. Muhammad Abdullah Abbas al-Issawi, also known as Abu Abd al-Sattar and Abu Akram, was a known al-Qaeda terrorist leader known to operate in Karmah and Ameriyah areas and was the al-Qaeda in Iraq Security Emir of the eastern Anbar Province.Coalition Forces were conducting operations targeting associates of a known senior leader within al-Qaeda in Iraq. During the operation the terrorists engaged ground forces with small arms fire. Coalition Forces used appropriate self-defense measures and engaged the armed men, killing two and detaining one. One of the terrorists killed has been positively identified as Abu Abd al-Sattar.
Coalition Forces recovered assault vests, weapons, hand grenades and suicide vests at the site. Abu Abd al-Sattar had links to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and was reported to have been in contact with him since late 2004, up to al-Zarqawi's death. He was also a weapons supplier to insurgent forces fighting against the Iraqi Army, Iraqi Police and Coalition Forces, and had links to the recent surge in chlorine VBIED attacks across Iraq.Intelligence reports also indicate that his VBIED cell used 12- to 13-year-old children as VBIED drivers. "Abu Abd al-Satter's death is a serious disruption to al-Qaeda in Iraq's VBIED network," said Lt. Col. Christopher Garver, MNF-I spokesperson. "This represents one more victory in the war against those that would deny safety and security to the Iraqi people."