News agencies report the arrest of Al-Qaeda leaders in Iran - June 28, 2003. The New York Times, June 27, 2003: The city where six British soldiers were killed this week is under the control of militias trained in Iran. The city of Majar al-Kabir is dominated by the Badr Brigade, whose members have been trained for years by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran. This city has a population of fifty thousand and is located fifty kilometers from the eastern border of Iran. The Badr Brigade militants, after secretly entering Iraq, have removed their uniforms and blended in with the local population. They are armed and have occupied a police station in Majar al-Kabir; this is the same station where the British soldiers were killed. Two of the eight armed men at the police station said they had recently come from Iran. Abd al-Salam, the leader of these militants, told one of them speaking to a reporter to be quiet. These gunmen affiliated with the Badr Corps prevented a woman from entering the police station today because she was not wearing a hijab and a bit of her ankle was showing. Adil al-Zubaidi, a computer engineer and member of the city council, said that the council has made these militants responsible for the security of Majar al-Kabir. He also said that the city council takes orders from 'Najaf,' the holy city that is the base for several important Shia leaders, including Ayatollah Hakim. AFP, June 27: The number two man in Al-Qaeda and the spokesperson for the terrorist organization have been arrested in Iran. Al-Arabiya news channel has reported that Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's right-hand man, and Suleiman Abu Ghaith, the spokesperson for the terrorist organization, are among those arrested in Iran. Al-Arabiya, which did not mention bin Laden's son in this report, states that the detainees are from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, and Iraqi Kurds. The report also mentioned that Jack Straw, the British Foreign Secretary, will soon visit Iran primarily regarding these arrests.
News Agencies Report Arrest of Al-Qaeda Leaders in Iran - June 28, 2003
Al-Qaeda leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri, have reportedly been arrested in Iran amidst rising tensions following the killing of British soldiers by Iranian-trained militias in Iraq. The Badr Brigade, a militia group, is controlling the area where these incidents occurred, raising concerns about Iran's involvement in regional instability.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Iran arrests key Al-Qaeda leaders, including Ayman al-Zawahiri and Suleiman Abu Ghaith.
- Iranian authorities arrest Ayman al-Zawahiri, Suleiman Abu Ghaith
- Badr Brigade control Majar al-Kabir
- Badr Brigade militants blend in local population
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The arrests of key Al-Qaeda figures in Iran could have significant geopolitical implications.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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