Iraqi forces kill AQI leader, arrest 15 in Diala

DIALA / IraqiNews.com: An Iraqi army force on Saturday conducted a security operation in southern Diala province, killing an amir (leader) of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) and arresting 15 others, a security source said. “A force from the Iraqi army’s 5th Division carried out an operation inside Youssef al-Hilan village, south of Buhrez district, (5 km) south of Baaquba city, killing Ibrahim Hekmat, alias Abu Qatada, an AQI amir who is top aide of the network leader in Diala,” the source told IraqiNews.com. “Fifteen AQI members others were arrested in the operation,” the source added. Buhrez is one of the hotspots in Diala that occasionally witness armed confrontations between al-Qaeda operatives on one hand and security forces and sahwa (awakening) tribal fighters on the other. Baaquba, the capital city of Diala, lies 57 km northeast of Baghdad. AmR (P)/SR 1