Hajji Hammadi died Nov. 11 in Baghdad, CNN reported. Investigators describe him as a longtime member of al-Qaida in Iraq and emir of two areas west of Baghdad.

The military said Hammadi is believed to have been behind a suicide bombing in June that targeted a meeting of sheiks in Karma in Anbar province. A bomb carried by a man wearing a police uniform killed three U.S. Marines, two Iraqi interpreters and 20 other Iraqis, including the mayor of Karma.

"Hammadi escorted the suicide bomber to the location and videotaped the attack," Brig. Gen. David Perkins said.

Hammadi is also believed to be the mastermind of the kidnapping in 2004 of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin. Maupin's body was found this year.

A tip led soldiers to a house where Hammadi was hiding, officials said.