Top Somali Alqeada leader killed in Waziristan.

[hanqadh]

Drone Strike Kills Qaeda Operative in Pakistan
By MARK MAZZETTI and PIR ZUBAIR SHAH
Published: December 11, 2009

WASHINGTON — A missile fired this week by a Central Intelligence Agency drone over Pakistan’s tribal regions killed a top Qaeda operations planner, according to American counterterrorism officials.

The strike, which occurred early Tuesday, hit a station wagon traveling in a river bed in the village of Spalga, about seven miles from Miram Shah, the capital of North Waziristan. Three people, including two foreigners, were killed, residents of Miram Shah and a Pakistani intelligence official said.

One American official said there were “strong indications” that the strike killed Saleh al-Somali, a member of al Qaeda’s inner circle who was taking refuge in the mountainous tribal belt in western Pakistan.

The Pakistani official said a Saudi named Abu Huraira was among those killed.

Al Qaeda operatives in the area usually use aliases, which makes identification of individual militants difficult, and the reports came amid a swirl of conflicting information about recent C.I.A. strikes in Pakistan.

Several Pakistani officials said Friday that another top Qaeda operative, Abu Yahya al-Libi, had been killed in a drone attack in Pakistan. But American officials on Friday disputed that Mr. Libi had been killed in a drone attack.

Mr. Libi has in recent years emerged as one of the terror network’s rising figures by posting dozens of radical videos on militant websites, and the rumors of his death spread through jihadi internet forums.

The Obama Administration in recent weeks has approved a C.I.A. plan to expand clandestine operations inside Pakistan, including the number of drone aircraft in the country and flying them over a wider swath of Pakistani territory. The White House plan is still awaiting approval by Pakistan’s government.

Though Pakistan has secretly shared intelligence with the United States for the drone strikes, and has asked the United States to share the technology with it, the government publicly condemns the attacks. Addressing a seminar in Lahore on Thursday, Interior Minister Rehman Malik called the drone strikes a curse for the country.

If Mr. Somali was indeed killed, it would be a significant blow, the American official said. Little is known about Mr. Somali, but one American official said that he was likely responsible for plotting attacks against Europe and the United States.

The official said that was the primary link between Qaeda leaders in Pakistan and the network’s allies in East Africa, including the Somali militant group al-Shabaab.

“He took strategic guidance from AQ’s top leadership and translated it into operational blueprints for prospective terrorist attacks,” said the official.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the information about the C.I.A. drone program is classified.

Pir Zubair Shah reported from Islamabad, Pakistan. Souad Mekhennet contributed from Frankfurt, Germany, and Eric Schmitt from Washington.

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

Good news for mankind

[Pirate Nayaa]

good riddance

[Demure]

3ubaal il ba'yiiin!

[king of kismayo]

united states air force

[nomadicwarlord]

The world just got safer, one drone attack at a time.

[Advo]

What's so good about the death of another somali man? muxuu niga suubiyey?

There are far more worst people in Somalia who are secular, yet we dont pray for their deaths.

[Lord Diplock]

Was he also Ogadeen?

[Firefly]

What's so good about the death of another somali man? muxuu niga suubiyey?

There are far more worst people in Somalia who are secular, yet we dont pray for their deaths.

There are some sick people on this forum, Advo. Uu so ducee bal.

Wishing for anyone's death is sick, period.

[AbdiWahab252]

Was he also Ogadeen?

Lord Diplock,

If he is wears size 13 or larger, yep

[AhlulbaytSoldier]

Was he also Ogadeen?

Lord Diplock,

If he is wears size 13 or larger, yep

[Kanada]

My Somali niggaz doing big tings. I wont be suprised if bin laden is replaced by a Somali

[Pirate Nayaa]

Was he also Ogadeen?

Dipstick, Ogaden people have their own land. they are not cowards like them other qabils who run to hide in pakistani
mountains.

OG have fighting kuffar for the last 1000yrs, and each time we worn.

vive la OG
vive la ONLF

[abdisamad3]

allah ya arxamu raximiniin to the death brother..may allah open the doors of jannah for him..

[Lord Diplock]

Was he also Ogadeen?

Dipstick, Ogaden people have their own land. they are not cowards like them other qabils who run to hide in pakistani
mountains.

OG have fighting kuffar for the last 1000yrs, and each time we worn.

vive la OG
vive la ONLF

U dont get irony sis

I am just taking the piss, you're talking an ONLF member here

< will Abdalle Tolomoge