BAGHDAD, April 26 (UPI) -- Al-Qaida confirmed the deaths of two of its top leaders in Iraq.
U.S. and Iraqi officials last week announced they had killed Abu Ayyub al-Masri and Abu Omar al-Baghdadi in a raid. Al-Qaida confirmed the deaths with a statement posted on Islamist Web sites over the weekend, the SITE Intelligence Group service reports.
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"We are proud to announce to you ... that the Islamic Ummah once again lost two leaders ... two heroes who were determined to follow the path of jihad, despite the severe adversity and the intensity of their burdens, as well as the aggressiveness of their enemies," the statement said.
The deaths triggered a series of bombings in Iraq, with dozens killed in Baghdad and in Anbar province.
