Baghdad : Iraqi officials say they believe government forces have killed Saddam Hussein’s former deputy who later allied himself with Islamic State militants – Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri. Al-Douri was known as the “king of clubs” in the deck of playing cards issued to help US troops identify key members of Saddam’s regime.
Salahuddin province Governor Raed al-Jabouri says soldiers and allied Shiite militiamen killed al-Douri early on Friday in an operation east of the city of Tikrit. A graphic photo issued by the government purports to be of al-Douri’s corpse.
Senior regional commander, Gen. Haider al-Basri, told Iraqi state TV that al-Douri and nine bodyguards were killed by gunshots while riding in a convoy. DNA tests are underway to confirm the identity of the body.
Meanwhile, Iraqi security forces have gained full control over a contested area south of the country’s largest oil refinery today as part of ongoing operations to secure the rest of Salahuddin province following the recapturing of Tikrit, a senior Iraqi military official said. General Ayad al-Lahabi, a commander with the Salahuddin Command Center, said the militarys gained control of the towns of al-Malha and al-Mazraah.
