Al-Qaida’s No. 3 leader believed killed in U.S. drone strike

WASHINGTON — Al-Qaida’s third-ranking leader — a close associate and relative by marriage of Osama bin Laden — is believed to have been killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan’s tribal region, according to U.S. officials.

The death of Sheik Said Masri, an
Egyptian who is believed to act as the terror network’s operational
leader — would be the latest blow to the terror network, which has
suffered a steady degradation of its leadership and ability to mount
attacks since the U.S. stepped up its campaign of missile strikes by
unmanned aircraft in Pakistan’s tribal region.

“We have strong reason to believe” that Masri is
dead, a U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity
because he was discussing intelligence information. “He was key to al-Qaida’s command and control. His death would be a major blow.”

Masri, also known as Mustafa Abu Yazid, was believed to play in role in most of al-Qaida’s
operations, including its finances and its continuing attempts to mount
terror attacks. He is also believed to have been the key conduit to bin
Laden and Ayman Zawahri, the second-ranking leader,
both of whom are believed to a play minimal role in the organization’s
day-to-day activities because of their need to remain hidden.

“Masri was the group’s chief operating officer, with
a hand in everything from finances to operational planning,” U.S.
officials said.

Like some other militant leaders, Masri’s death has
been reported erroneously in the past. U.S. officials discussed Masri’s
apparent death Monday after a statement began appearing on extremist
websites announcing he had been killed in Pakistan.
It did not confirm how he was killed but said that his wife, three
daughters and others were killed at the same time, according to the SITE Institute, a private group that monitors militant websites.

The statement claimed that Masri had been training al-Qaida
operatives to carry out future attacks. “What he left behind will, with
permission from Allah, continue to be generous and copious and to
produce heroes and raise generations. His death will only be a severe
curse by his life upon the infidels. The response is near.”

U.S. officials would not discuss the reports that
Masri’s family members had been killed in the drone strike. He is
believed to have married into bin Laden’s family in the years since the
two arrived in Afghanistan.

U.S. officials say they take steps to minimize civilian casualties, but in cases when a senior al-Qaida leader is found, they have to decide on firing a missile even if it means causing noncombatant casualties.

Although severely depleted and hiding in a shrinking sanctuary in Pakistan, al-Qaida
has been able to replace leaders killed or captured in the past, though
there was no indication Monday who would take over as operation leader.
Masri’s apparent death followed the recent killing in Pakistan of two other senior al-Qaida leaders, Abu Laith al Libi, who was killed in a U.S. missile strike in December, and Hussein Yemeni, who was reported to have died in an attack in Miram Shah in March.

Under severe pressure over the last year, al-Qaida has formed closer links with Pakistani militant groups, including Tehrik-e-Taliban, a violent organization that U.S. officials say was involved in training and financing the recent attempted bombing in Times Square.

Masri, who is believed to have been 56, had been
involved with Islamic extremist movements for nearly 30 years after
joining Zawahri in a radical organization founded in Egypt. He spent three years in prison in connection with the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and later followed bin Laden to Sudan and Afghanistan,
where he was involved in the planning for the 9/11 attacks. A report
issued by the 9/11 commission said that Masri had been among the al-Qaida leaders who had opposed the hijacking operation.

The U.S. has repeatedly captured or killed al-Qaida
members described as the organization’s No. 3 leader since 2001. Masri
ascended to the job a few years ago, an official said, and has issued
several statements since then promising or taking credit for attacks,
including the suicide bombing against a CIA base in Khost, Afghanistan, last year that killed six CIA personnel.

Officials would not discuss where the attack
occurred in the tribal areas. Many of the drone strikes carried out by
the U.S. are against militants whose identities are not fully known,
but the CIA also looks for specific leaders such as Masri whose names are on an approved target list.

In the wake of the Times Square attempt, the White House has warned Pakistan
that it needs to intensify its effort to crack down on militant groups
in the tribal areas. The U.S. has also bluntly warned that it might
take action beyond the current drone campaign if there is a successful
attack against the U.S. that is traceable to Pakistan.

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(c) 2010, Tribune Co.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.