Officials in Iraq have positively identified a terrorist killed Jan. 22 after he attacked a security-team member acting on a warrant against him.Multiple tests, including fingerprint matches, confirmed the identity of Saad Uwayyd Ubayd Mujil al-Shammari, also known as Abu Khalaf. Shammari was name in a court-issued warrant as a key al-Qaida in Iraq member wanted for facilitating the entry of hundreds of foreign terrorists from Syria into Iraq since 2006.
For the past four years, Shammari was considered by U.S. and Iraqi intelligence officials to be a foremost senior al-Qaida foreign terrorist facilitator who assisted in the movement of hundreds of terrorists from Syria into Iraq.
The foreign terrorists conducted numerous high-profile attacks throughout Iraq and killed many people, including security forces in Iraq, Iraqi government workers and civilians, officials said.
Based on information collected from other members of the terrorist network previously arrested and questioned, Shammari prepared many of the foreign terrorists in Syria prior to their entry into Iraq to conduct suicide attacks. He also was key in obtaining and distributing money and weapons to terrorist group members operating throughout Iraq.
As a result of Shammari's death, it is likely that al-Qaida in Iraq's ability to obtain foreign fighters, finance operations and conduct suicide attacks against the Iraqi populace has been significantly disrupted, officials said.