Osama Bin Laden (Archives)
Photo: Reuters
Iraq Qaeda group urges anti-Jewish, US Attacks
Baghdad-based al-Qaeda affiliate posts web call to Palestinians to strike Jewish, US targets in retaliation to Israeli offensive in Gaza
The leader of an al Qaeda-linked group in Iraq, in an Internet message, called on Palestinians to launch global attacks on Jewish and US Targets to avenge Israel's offensive in Gaza.
"Palestinians around the world ... Should support (Gaza) using the military proficiency they are known for, and target Jewish and American interests everywhere," Said Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, head of the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq, in an audio recording posted on Islamist websites on Saturday.
"We in Iraq shall not abandon our (Arab) people in Gaza ... And we shall step up our operations against the American occupiers," He said.
Baghdadi was echoing a call by al Qaeda's second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahri, who called on Muslims on Tuesday to strike Western and Israeli targets around the world.
Al-Qaeda has become increasingly isolated in Iraq, but General David Petraeus, the outgoing US Commander in Iraq, said in September that it remained a dangerous force in the country and US troops must continue to confront it.
