The 10 senior-most al Qaeda in Iraq leaders killed or captured in April and May. Image from Multinational Forces Iraq. Click to view full size.

US and Iraqi security forces continue to pursue al Qaeda in Iraq's networks as the terror group works to re-establish footholds in Baghdad, Mosul, and northern Diyala province. During the month of May, US and Iraqi security forces have killed or captured 50 senior members of al Qaeda in Iraq’s network over the past month, Major General Kevin Bergner, the spokesman for Multinational Forces Iraq said during an operations briefing today in Baghdad.

Bergner singled out the 10 senior-most al Qaeda leaders. Of the 10 senior al Qaeda leaders identified, US and Iraqi forces have captured four emirs, or leaders, two cell leader, and four facilitators and bomb makers. The capture of these 10 leaders will allow the Coalition and Iraqi forces to conduct interrogation and strike further at al Qaeda in Iraq's network.

Al Qaeda in Iraq's areas of influence, dated March 2008. Map from Multinational Forces Iraq. Click to view.

Mosul remains an al Qaeda hotspot. Three of the leaders captured were responsible for operations in Mosul, and one was responsible for operations in Bayji. In April, US and Iraqi forces killed or captured five senior al Qaeda leaders in Mosul, where al Qaeda is attempting to reestablish its network and disrupt Iraqi and Coalition efforts to secure the city. Al Qaeda in Iraq's last major ratline into Syria spans westward from Mosul into Tal Afar and the crossing point at Sinjar.

Senior Al Qaeda in Iraq operatives killed or captured in Mosul, Baghdad, Salahadin Province:

Mosul:

• Ibrahim Ahmad Umar Nasir al Sabawi: Al Qaeda's emir of eastern Mosul. Sabawi facilitated the movement of foreign al Qaeda operatives into Mosul and worked closely with Abu Yasir al Saudi, also know as Jar Allah, one of two Saudi al Qaeda leaders killed in a US airstrike in Mosul in February.
• Ayyad Jasim Muhammad Ali: Al Qaeda's emir for northeastern Mosul.
• Adnan Muhammad: An al Qaeda cell leader in Mosul.
• Nawaf Ali Muhammad Sultan: An al Qaeda suicide car bomb cell leader in Mosul.
• Husam Asim Sayid Mahmud: An al Qaeda suicide car bomb facilitator for Mosul.

Baghdad:

• Abbas Abd Ahmad Hamad: An al Qaeda car bomb maker for the South Karkh network.
• Riyad Abbas Husayn: Al Qaeda's sharia emir, or religious leader in charge of enforcing al Qaeda's Taliban-like religious rule, in South Karkh.
• Sa'ad Abdullah Salih: An al Qaeda bomb maker who facilitated the movement of foreign al Qaeda operatives into Baghdad.

Salahadin Province:

• Yusif Dhalaf Abd Fayyad: Al Qaeda's security emir in Bayji.
• Najah Husayn Ali Ismail: An Al Qaeda weapons facilitator in Tikrit.