Abu Laith al-Libi

."cite web |title=Terrorist Recognition Cards: Afghanistan/Pakistan |url=http://www.dia.mil/site6_images/cards/AF.html |publisher=Defense Intelligence Agency |date=2006-10 |accessdate=2008-02-01]

Biography

The Defense Intelligence Agency says he was 41 at the time of his death, putting his birth date around 1967. [cite news |title=Senior al-Qaeda operative in Afghanistan killed (2nd Roundup) |url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/southasia/news/article_1389373.php/Senior_al-Qaeda_operative_in_Afghanistan_killed__2nd_Roundup_ |publisher=Monsters and Critics |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-31] In the 1980s he was one of the Afghan Arabs who came to Afghanistan to fight the Soviet Union during the Soviet-Afghan War.cite news |first=Ian |last=Black |coauthors=Siddique, Haroon |title=Top al-Qaida leader 'killed' in Afghanistan |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/alqaida/story/0,,2250281,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront |publisher=The Guardian |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-31] He returned to Libya in 1994 and took part in a failed attempt to oust Muammar al-Gaddafi.cite news |title=A strike against al-Qaeda |url=http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10632193 |publisher=The Economist |date=2008-02-01 |accessdate=2008-02-01] In the wake of this attempt al-Libi escaped to Saudi Arabia, where he was imprisoned in Riyadh following the Khobar Towers bombing. Sometime thereafter he was either released or managed to escape, and came to Afghanistan to collaborate with al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In 1997, a dispute between the the two oldest brothers of the Canadian Khadr family, Abdullah and Abdurahman, was mediated by al-Libi, who earned their confidence and respect telling them about Dubai and Ferarris, and they later referred to him as a "really cool" person.cite book |title= Guantanamo's Child |last=Shephard |first=Michelle |authorlink=Michelle Shephard |year= 2008 |publisher= John Wiley & Sons|isbn= |pages= ] In 2002, he approached the father Ahmed Khadr about letting the 15-year old Omar serve as a translator for some Arab "visitors" in the region. When a gun-battle resulted in the young translator being sent to Guantanamo Bay, al-Libi tried to placate the family with gifts and apologies, but Khadr remained furious and refused to associate with al-Libi, whom he blamed for not taking care of his son.In May 2005 when Abu Faraj al-Libbi was captured in Pakistan, his identity was confused in many reports with Abu Laith al-Libbi. [cite news
first=Salman
last=Masood
title=Suspected Senior Leader of Al Qaeda in Pakistan Is Captured
publisher=New York Times
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/04/international/asia/04cnd-pakistan.html?hp&ex=1115265600&en=e190d5eb9d779215&ei=5094&partner=homepage&st=cse&sq=Senior+Al-Qaeda+leader+May+2005&scp=1
date=2005-05-04
accessdate=2008-02-07
quote=Today's report of the capture of a top Al Qaeda operative, Abu Farraj al-Libbi, represents a critical victory in the war on terror. Now al-Libbi was a top general for bin Laden. He was a major facilitator and chief planner for the Al Qaeda network. His arrest removed a dangerous enemy who was a direct threat to America.]

al-Libi was seen in two online videos in 2007, the first of which called for the kidnapping of Westerners. The second claimed preparations were being made for war against Israel and the subsequent imposition of Islam in the world. In February of that year he is said to have been involved in the Bagram Air Base bombing, which al-Qaeda claimed was an attempted assassination of U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. In November 2007 he reported the merger of Libyan Islamic Fighting Group, a Libyan group waging jihad against al-Gaddafi, with al-Qaeda; this would be his last public appearance before his death.

Death

On January 31 2008Abu Layth al-Libi was reported to have been killed by a missile strike from an unmanned CIA Predator drone, either late Monday, 28 January, or early Tuesday, 29 January 2008.cite news| url=http://www.abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4222911&page=1| title=Top Al Qaeda Leader Killed| publisher=ABC News| author=Rehab El-Buri, Jonathon Karl| date=January 31, 2008| accessdate=2008-01-31| quote=A jihadi Web site today carried a banner congratulating the Muslim worldwide community for the 'martyrdom of Sheikh Abu Al-Laith Al-Libi.'] cite news| url=http://www.cnn.co/2008/US/01/31/alqaeda.death/| title=Sources: Top al Qaeda terrorist killed| author=Pam Benson| publisher=CNN| author=| date=January 31, 2008| accessdate=2008-01-31] "CNN" attributed reports of his death to a "knowledgeable western official", and an "unnamed military source".

"MSNBC" reported that some intelligence sources describe him as the number three leader of al Qaeda.cite news| url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4686491/page/5/| title=Al-Qaida leaders, associates| page=| pages=| publisher=MSNBC| author=| date=| accessdate=2008-01-31]

On January 31, 2008 it was reported by the SITE Intelligence Group that he had been killed after a message appeared on Ekhlaas.org, an Islamist website. [cite news |first=Ken |last=Fireman |title=Al-Qaeda Commander Libi Dies in Afghanistan, Web Site Reports |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a5fELTDs9ODY&refer=home |publisher=Bloomberg |date=2008-01-31 |accessdate=2008-01-31]

Counter-terrorism officials are as yet unwilling to reveal the circumstances of the killing, though they have confirmed the death to news organizations.Fact|date=February 2008

Other members of al Qaeda's cadre of leaders have been reported to have been killed by the airstrike that killed al Libi.cite news
url=http://www.adnkronos.com/AKI/English/Security/?id=1.0.1845929971
title=Terrorism: Three al-Qaeda leaders killed in US attack
publisher=Adnkronos
date=February 5 2008
accessdate=2008-02-06] http://www.arabtimesonline.com/client/pagesdetails.asp?nid=11834&ccid=9cite news
url=
title= ‘Local’ Saudis killed with Libi
page=
pages=
publisher=Arab Times
date=February 5 2008
accessdate=2008-02-06]

The Italian news source adnkronos reported three other al Qaeda leaders were killed. It called Abu Obeida Tawari al-Obeidi and Abu Adel al-Kuwaiti Kuwaitis. It called Abdel Ghaffar al-Darnawi a Libyan.

The Kuwaiti news source Arab Times also reported Abu Adel al-Kuwaiti was killed in the airstrike, but it asserted he was a Saudi, in spite of his name. It reported the death in the airstrike of a second Saudi, named Tawari Rakhis Al-Mutairi, who had also lived in Kuwait for a long period of time. Pakistani media reported that American al-Qaeda member Adam Gadahn may have also killed in the strike. [cite news |title=American al-Qaeda leader also killed? |url=http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=12798 |publisher=The News |date=2008-02-09 |accessdate=2008-02-09]

Michael McConnell,the USA's Director of National Intelligence, told members of the Senate Intelligence Committeecite news
url=http://media-newswire.com/release_1060466.html
title=Al Qaeda Remains Dangerous, Intel Chief Tells Senate
publisher=Newswire
date=February 5 2008
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=] :

References