US forces said they had killed the al Qaeda leader who masterminded the bombing that destroyed the twin minarets of the revered Shi'ite Golden Mosque in Samarra in June this year.
"During an operation August 2 east of Samarra, Coalition Forces killed ... Haitham al-Badri, the al-Qaeda in Iraq emir of Salahuddin province. He is also the terrorist mastermind responsible for the Golden Mosque bombing in Samarra on June 13," the US military said in a statement.
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They said he was in charge of an al Qaeda unit consisting of two Iraqis, four Saudis and a Tunisian.
Niiiiiice: (Ace):
Update: (PA)more details over at ITM 15 other worthies got their virgins in the op, and the honcho was an ex-Saddam guy before going AQ