Al-Qaeda chief killed in CIA drone strike
2011-09-15 22:28
Washington - US officials say a top al-Qaeda operative was killed earlier this week in Pakistan's tribal areas, landing another blow against the besieged terrorist network.
The man killed was Abu Hafs al-Shahri, whom two US officials described as al-Qaeda's chief of operations in Pakistan. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to describe classified counterterrorist operations.
The officials say al-Shahri worked closely with the Pakistani Taliban to carry out attacks inside Pakistan, and was also a contender to assume some duties of al-Qaeda's second in command, Atiyah Abd al-Rahman.
Al-Rahman was killed by a CIA drone strike in late August, which is apparently how al-Shahri was also killed, though US officials refused to confirm the method since the drone programme is classified.
The killing was first reported by NBC News.
- AP
