Kuwaiti Al-Qaida Figure Killed In US Drone Strike

by Florian Flade

He loved to give lectures. Sheikh Khalid Abdur Rahman al-Hussainan, a Kuwaiti national, became one of the most prominent Al-Qaida figures in recent years. Numerous of his lectures were released by the terrorist organization´s media wing As-Sahab Media including several „Ramadan lessons“.

Al-Hussainan is dead now. He was killed Friday morning in a US drone strike in the Pakistani tribal region North Waziristan while – according to Jihadi sources – eating his „dawn meal“ (breakfast).

According to US intelligence sources Al-Hussainan aka „Abu Zaid al-Kuwaiti“ was the successor of Abu Yahya al-Libi, a Libyan Al-Qaida commander killed several months ago in a similar drone strike.

The Kuwaiti Al-Qaida cleric had allegedly worked as an official in the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Kuwait before joining the jihadists in Afghanistan.

New Abu Yahya al-Libi Videos – Dead or What?

by Florian Flade

Abu Yahya al-Libi in new video message released June 22

Three weeks have passed since a US drone strike in North Waziristan allegedly killed Al-Qaida´s Top commander Abu Yahya al-Libi. Since then Al-Qaida has neither officially confirmed nor denied the death of al-Libi. Question still remains: Is the White House´s claim true or not?

Instead of celebrating the martyrdom of yet another of its leaders Al-Qaida is releasing videos of al-Libi. Last week the terrorist network´s media wing „As-Sahab“ released a 17-minute video statement titled „The American Military and Ethics of Wars“ in which al-Libi talks about civilian deaths in Afghanistan.

The more interesting details regarding the second new Abu Yahya al-Libi tape within two weeks is: Al-Qaida does not seem to regard him as dead. The organization labels him „Al-Sheikh Al-Mujahid Abu Yahya al-Libi (may Allah protect him)“ – the latter phrase indicating the person is still alive. Otherwise the phrase „may Allah have mercy upon him“ would be used.

Like the other video message released recently – titled „Tragedies of Ash-Sham: Between the Crimes of the Nusayris and the Plots of the West“ – the newest al-Libi tape was allegedly recorded in the Islamic year of 1433. So no indicating the videos were produced after the June 4th drone strike? No.

Al-Qaida could be playing the old game of not confirming or denying a leader´s death and meanwhile releasing all the old footage of the person recorded in recent months. In other cases – for example the death of Atiyyatullah al-Libi – it took months for Al-Qaida to publish a statement.

The Western intelligence community is pretty sure Abu Yahya al-Libi is history…but still lacks the proof.

 

Abu Yahya al-Libi – Dead or Live?

by Florian Flade

New Abu Yahya al-Libi video announced

While Western media and numerous news agencies are citing U.S. intelligence sources saying a recent CIA drone strike in North Waziristan killed Al-Qaida commander Abu Yahya al-Libi, there is no word from the Jihadi side yet on wether these claims are true or not.

Yesterday there was an announcement released on several major Jihadi Internet forums indicating Abu Yahya was in fact not killed and is still roaming the mountains of the Pakistani tribal area.

„Glad Tidings: New As-Sahab Video of Abu Yahya al-Libi (may Allah protect him) will be released soon“ – the forums post reads.

Does this announcement made by a forum member mean the Al-Qaida commander survived the U.S. drone attack or was in fact never in the house that was hit by the missiles? No, it does not. In the past Online Jihadis have reacted in a similar way when a prominent Al-Qaida figure was killed. Within the intelligence community there is a saying: „First they deny it, then they mourn it, then they celebrate it, then they call for revenge“.

Question remains if the person who posted the video announcement some 17 hours ago on the forums is in fact in contact with Al-Qaida operatives or those working for the propaganda wing As-Sahab Media.

America´s spies and terrorist hunters are pretty sure they got Al-Libi this time. And even in Pakistan military and intelligence sources claim the Al-Qaida commander is dead now. Three to four Arabs and some Haqqani and Bahadur Taliban were killed in the drone strike on Khassu Khel village, Pakistani sources are saying. Likely Abu Yahya al-Libi was killed next to his Arab bodyguards and driver.