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Al-Qaeda No.3 'Killed by Drone'

US: Mustafa al-Yazid's death will be a crushing blow to militants

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 31, 2010 10:52 PM CDT | Updated Jun 1, 2010 7:41 AM CDT

(Newser) – Al-Qaeda's operational chief has been killed by a US Predator drone strike in Pakistan, according to reports from the militant group that American officials believe are correct. Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, an Egyptian, was a founding member of al-Qaeda and is believed to have been the militant group's third-in-command behind Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the New York Times reports.

"In terms of counterterrorism, this would be a big victory,” a US official says. The sheikh "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 Laden and Zawahri. He was key to al-Qaeda’s command and control.” Al-Yazid has surfaced alive and well after previous reports of his death, but this is the first time al-Qaeda has acknowledged his death.

This image released by the Site Intelligence Group made from undated video shows Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, also known as Mustafa al-Yazid.
This image released by the Site Intelligence Group made from undated video shows Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, also known as Mustafa al-Yazid.   (AP Photo/Site Intelligence Group)
This image released by the Site Intelligence Group made from undated video shows Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, also known as Mustafa al-Yazid.
This image released by the Site Intelligence Group made from undated video shows Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, also known as Mustafa al-Yazid.   (AP Photo/Site Intelligence Group)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 24 comments
NoddaAndYou
Jun 2, 2010 12:17 AM CDT
Maybe after this many attempts on his life, you think the Al-Qaeda would finally just say; yea he's dead you got him, stop looking for him now, eh?
Observer
Jun 1, 2010 10:33 PM CDT
We have been hearing lies from the US military since before Bush approved his illegal wars. We have no way to confirm this story. I'd bet it is false. Our military has wasted a trillion dollars on this shameful adventure and killed hundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But we don't keep a count of their dead. Big surprise. Our Generals are war criminals.
hankhill
Jun 1, 2010 8:09 PM CDT
YEA RIGHT I BET HE AINT DEAD NO BODY

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