NYT: Officials Say U.S. Killed an Iraqi in Raid in Syria.

I wrote about the figure targeted, Abu Ghadiya, whose real name is is Badran Turki Hishan Al Mazidih, and US efforts to get Syria to turn him over, several months ago. More:

Back in May, I reported that the US government was using stepped up channels to try to persuade Syria to turn over to Iraq a top alleged Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia figure, Abu Ghadiya, whose real name is Badran Turki Hishan Al Mazidih. A group assembled at the US government's request "concluded," I wrote, "'that the US needed to send a message requesting Damascus' assistance on Abu Ghadiyah. But it should not be seen by Damascus as an American message.' Ideas were floated to ask the Turks, or the French to play the intermediary. 'A request will be made to the Iraqis to ask the Syrians for Abu Ghadiya's extradition.'"

Apparently, Syria did not come through. Tonight, the New York Times reports that the figure targeted in the US raid in Syria this past weekend was indeed Abu Ghadiya, and that he was killed in the operation. ...

More here.

Update: More from Wired's Noah Shachtman and Daniel Levy.

Posted by Laura at October 27, 2008 10:50 PM