High level al-Qaeda leader reported dead
Friday, February 1, 2008
Abu Laith al-Libi, an al-Qaeda leader in Afghanistan, was reported killed on Islamist website Ekhlaas.org, saying: "[Libi] was martyred with a group of his brothers in the land of Muslim Pakistan....Though we are sad for his loss, he left a legacy that will inflame the enemy nation and religion." It is speculated that he was hit by a United States missile, which is now identified as being fired from a Predator drone, in the North Waziristan of Pakistan, and a dozen more militants were also reported dead.
"The missile appeared to have been fired by a drone," said a Pakistani intelligence official.
The News reports the attack was aimed at al-Libi, as well as Obaidah al-Masri.
"But it's not bin Laden and Zawahri. They do have an ability to regenerate and replace these guys," said a Western intelligence official. Al-Libi is said to have been the third highest ranking member of al-Qaeda.
The Government of Pakistan said they did not know about his death. The details of the death have not yet been fully released.
Sources
edit- "Top al-Qaeda leader reported dead" — BBC News Online, January 31, 2008
- Rehab El-Buri and Jonathan Karl. "Top Al Qaeda Leader Killed" — ABC, January 31, 2008
- "U.S. officials: Top al Qaeda terrorist killed in Pakistan" — CNN, January 31, 2008