$50,000 Reward Announced for Ansar al-Sunnah Commander in Iraq

This from the Government Communications Directorate of the Republic of Iraq:

(Click to view photo of Abu Abdullah al-Shafi'i, c/o Globalterroralert.com)

"$50,000 Dollar Reward Announced For Ansar al Sunna Terrorist Leader Abu Abdullah Al-Shafi’i"

"The Iraqi government announced a reward of $50,000 U.S. dollars for information leading to the arrest of Abu Abdullah Al Shafi’i, widely believed to be the leader of the terrorist group Ansar al Sunna (AAS).   The group has taken credit for numerous bombings, assassinations and other terrorist acts in Mosul, Kirkuk, Irbil and Baghdad.  Al Shafi’i played a direct role in organizing and directing attacks that resulted in hundreds of deaths of Iraqi civilians and Iraqi Security Forces.   Intelligence sources believe that foreign Arabs under the direct control of Al Shafi’i actively recruit and train terrorists, as well as provide weapons and financial support for terrorist attacks."

"Purportedly Abu Abdullah al Shafi’i received his terrorist training in Afghanistan at a camp run by terrorist Osama Bin Laden.  Al Shafi’I gained control of AAS in early 2003. AAS is an offshoot of the terrorist group, Ansar al-Islam (AAI).”  The Origins of AAS date back to 2001 when several militant Islamist groups merged to form the AAI and established a terrorist base near the village of Khurmal, located in the mountains of northern Iraq along the Iranian border.   Reports referred that the AAI base was destroyed in 2003 during the last war against Saddam's Regime.   Evidence suggests that prior to its destruction, Al Qaeda terrorists used the Khurmal AAI base for sanctuary."