Al-Qaeda leader Abu Yahya al-Libi killed in US drone strike

Three separate drone strikes were launched from Saturday to Monday, killing at
least 30 people, according to local sources.

The third barrage comprised two missiles, which slammed into a compound and a
vehicle in the village of Hesokhel, near Miranshah, the capital of North
Waziristan, before dawn. Pakistani intelligence officials said they had
evidence that Libi was at the scene at the time of the strike.

A Western security analyst on condition of anonymity said: “The high intensity
of strikes suggest there is some sort of good intelligence that a high
value-target is in the area.”

Pakistan condemned the drone strike, summoning the US charge d’affaires to
express it’s “serious concerns” over the tactic. The attack came at a time
of increased tensions between Washington and Islamabad, following the
conviction two weeks ago of a doctor who helped to track down bin Laden.

Libi, a Libyan citizen believed to be in his late 40s, was thought dead in
2009 only to re-emerge months later, churning out propaganda messages.

He carries a $1m US bounty on his head and was captured in 2002 when Nato
forces overran Afghanistan. However, he was part of an al-Qaeda breakout
three years later increasing his cachet in militant circles.

Some terror experts believe he took over as deputy leader last year, following
the death of Atiyah abd al-Rahman also in a drone strike in North
Waziristan.

Ben Venzke, an analyst at the US-based IntelCenter, said that Libi’s death
would be a severe blow to international jihadi groups.

“The loss of Abu Yahya al-Libi would be felt throughout the jihadi community
as he has been one of the most visible jihadi figures from any of the groups
around the world, with prolific video releases and writings,” he said.

Drone strikes are highly controversial in Pakistan, where many believe they
serve as a recruiting sergeant for al-Qaeda.

The latest blitz prompted Pakistan’s foreign ministry to summon the American
charge d’affaires to receive a formal protest about the strikes on Tuesday.

At the same time, a letter retrieved from Osama bin Laden’s Pakistani hideout
shows how effective they have been in hurting al-Qaeda. In it, the former
leader warned his “brothers” in North Waziristan to travel only under cloud
cover in order to thwart the drones.

The rate of attack slowed during the past year as relations between Washington
and Islamabad soured.

However, they have intensified in ferocity during the past fortnight after the
US and Pakistan failed to reach an agreement over Nato supply lines during
talks in Chicago.

The Pakistani parliament has asked for an end to the strikes as part of a deal
to allow Nato supplies through its territory to Afghanistan.

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One Response to “Al-Qaeda leader Abu Yahya al-Libi killed in US drone strike”

  1. FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda Jewish News says:

    more Jewish zionist media lies.
    We all know Al Qaeda is CIA, MI6 SIS disguised to look like muslim terrorists.

    Stop pretending that islam is the bad guys..you criminal zionist Jews.

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