6 suspected al-Qaida leaders killed, captured in N. Iraq

At least six al-Qaida leaders accused of operating extortion and assassination networks in northern Iraq were killed or captured by U.S. and Iraqi troops, the U.S. military said in a statement late Thursday.

The suspected al-Qaida leaders were killed or arrested in Mosul, which is located 360 km northwest of Baghdad, in joint security operations by the U.S. and Iraqi forces on March 18-24, according to the statement.

The six were suspected to be involved in extortion and assassination networks which target oil companies and small businesses to help fund al-Qaida around Mosul, the statement said, adding the ability of al-Qaida in Iraq to operate and restructure would be "severely hindered" after the operation.

Mosul has long been a stronghold for al-Qaida militants and other insurgent groups since the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 despite repeated U.S. and Iraqi military operations against them.

Sporadic attacks by militants are still common in Iraq as part of recent deterioration in security which shaped a setback to the efforts of the Iraqi government to restore normalcy.

Source:Xinhua