"A major blow to Al-Qaeda" says one U.S. official
nytimes.com
WASHINGTON – The operational leader of Al Qaeda in Afghanistan was killed in an American missile strike in Pakistan’s tribal areas in the last two weeks, according to a statement from the terrorist group issued late Monday that American officials believe is correct.
Al QaedaThe militant leader, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, an Egyptian, was a top financial chief for Al Qaeda as well as one of the group’s founders, and was considered by American intelligence officials as terrorist organization’s No. 3 leader behind Osama bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahri, another Egyptian.
“In terms of counterterrorism, this would be a big victory,” said the American official, who was not authorized to speak publicly. “Al-Masri was the group’s chief operating officer, with a hand in everything from finances to operational planning. He was also the organization’s prime conduit to Bin Ladin and Zawahri. He was key to al-Qaeda’s command and control.”
“His death would be a major blow to al-Qaeda, which in December lost both its internal and external operations chiefs,” the American official said. “Though these terrorists remain extremely dangerous and determined to strike at the United States, the removal from the battlefield of top leaders like al-Masri is further proof that the tribal areas are not quite the safe haven al-Qaeda and its allies thought them to be.”
