Al-Qaeda in Iraq has not picked its leader yet

Tactical Report: The Al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia may have not yet picked a new leader following Abu Musaab Al-Zarqawi’s death in a US raid on 7/6/06 near Baaquba.

Previous reports suggested the Al-Qaeda picked Abu Hamza Al-Muhajer or Egyptian-born Abu Ayyub Al-Masri as the American military command claims. However, these reports may prove to be a little premature.

Iraqi Sunni sources agree that all Al-Qaeda statements in Iraq or abroad have not identify clearly who his successor is.

The Iraqi militants still consider Abu Abdulrahman Al-Iraqi as their own leader. Abu Abdulrahman Al-Iraqi was acting as Al-Zarqawi’s deputy. He keeps taking charge of Baghdad and Al-Anbar province. For this, the Iraqi wing of Al-Qaeda considers him as the essential field commander of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

Abu Hamza Al-Muhajer is taking charge of Baaquba, south of Baghdad and some areas in central Iraq.

Besides Abu Abdulrahman Al-Iraqi and Abu Hamza Al-Muhajer, there is another prominent of Al-Qaeda in Iraq. He is Abdullah Rashid Al-Baghdadi, leader of Shura Al-Mujahideen in Iraq. He is taking charge of Falluja and Ramadi.

According to these sources, Al-Zarqawi’s absence might have put Al-Qaeda in Iraq under the command of three leaders or more, but this will be temporary.