General Petraeus told reporters that he believes that at least two of the three kidnapped US soldiers from near Mahmoudiya are still alive.
The search continues for the three US soldiers kidnapped on Saturday May 12, 2007, near Mahmoudiya.
The missing US soldiers from Mahmoudiya (left to right): Alex Jimenez and his wife Yaderlin Jimenez (Via IraqSlogger), Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, and Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr..
Petraeus also believes he knows who was behind the attack that killed 4 US soldiers and an Iraqi translator last week when the others went missing.
The AP just released this report on Saturday:
BAGHDAD, Iraq — The top U.S. commander in Iraq said he believes he knows who kidnapped three U.S. soldiers last weekend and that at least two of them are still alive, the Army Times newspaper reported.
“We know who that guy is,” Gen. David Petraeus said in an interview posted Saturday on the Army Times Web site. He did not give the man’s name but described him as “sort of an affiliate of al-Qaida. He’s the big player down in that area. We’ve tangled with him before.”
U.S. forces have been searching for the three since they went missing May 12 after a pre-dawn attack on their observation position about 20 miles south of Baghdad. Four U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi were killed in the attack.
According to the newspaper, Petraeus said he did not know for certain whether the three 10th Mountain Division soldiers were alive.
“As of this morning, we thought there were at least two that were probably still alive,” he said. “At one point in time there was a sense that one of them might have died, but again we just don’t know.”
Petraeus spoke with the Army Times late Friday, his staff said.
According to the Army Times, Petraeus said an informant passed on the information about who probably led the attack.
“Somebody’s given us the names of all the guys that participated in it and told us how they did it, and all the rest of that stuff,” he said. “Now, we have to verify that at some point in time, but it sounds spot on. We’ve had all kinds of tips down there. We just tragically haven’t found the individuals.”
U.S. Army Pfc. Brandon Gray, 22, from Inola, Okla., of Delta Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division patrols in Quarghuli village, near Youssifiyah, Iraq Saturday, May 19, 2007. A May 12 attack in Quarghuli left four U.S. soldiers and an Iraqi soldier dead and three comrades missing. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)
UPDATE: (Saturday PM) A uniform was found in Iraq on Saturday that may belong to one of the missing soldiers.
Previously:
5 US Soldiers Killed… 3 Missing in Mahmoudiya
Al Qaeda Claims It Is Holding Missing US “Crusader” Soldiers!!
Al Qaeda Says It Will Align Itself With Democrats
Al Qaeda Warns US to Stop Searching For Missing Soldiers
Captured US Soldiers in Iraq Are From Ft. Drum
Pentagon Releases Information on Missing Soldiers
Pentagon: “Reason to Believe” Missing Troops May Be Alive! (Video)
The Search For the Missing US Soldiers Continues
4th Soldier Identified- 3 US Soldiers Still Missing
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