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Al-Qaida's 'number two' was key target for west Al-Qaida's 'number two' was key target for west
(about 7 hours later)
He is variously described as a propagandist, a theologian, an ideologue and an operations chief. None of these descriptions may be entirely accurate and he has been reported killed several times before. He was variously described as a propagandist, a theologian, an ideologue and an operations chief. None of these descriptions may be entirely accurate and he has been reported killed several times before.
Despite the fog of covert war around him, it is at least certain that Abu Yahya al-Libi – who may have been killed in drone strikes in Pakistan on Monday – became one of the key targets for western intelligence services after the death of Osama bin Laden a year ago. Despite the fog of covert war around him, it is at least certain that Abu Yahya al-Libi – who has been reported killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan on Monday – became one of the key targets for western intelligence services after the death of Osama bin Laden a year ago.
A Libyan, whose real name is Mohamed Hassan Qaid, Libi came relatively late to al-Qaida. His early years of activism appear to have been spent with the now largely defunct Libyan Islamic Fighting Group in his native land and then in various north African countries. He then travelled to Afghanistan where he became one of the many and varied self-styled international "mujahideen" who fought alongside the Taliban in 2001. A Libyan, whose real name is Mohamed Hassan Qaid, Libi came relatively late to al-Qaida.
Captured in the aftermath of the hardline Islamist movement's defeat, Libi became famous in militant circles when he escaped from Bagram Air Force Base north of Kabul in 2005 after three years of imprisonment. It is then that he is thought to have sworn the bayat, the oath of personal allegiance to Bin Laden, and thus effectively joined al-Qaida. His early years of activism appear to have been spent with the now largely defunct Libyan Islamic Fighting Group in his native land and then in various north African countries. He then travelled to Afghanistan where he became one of the many and varied self-styled international "mujahideen" who fought alongside the Taliban in 2001.
Libi was born in the mid-1960s and is more than a decade younger than al-Qaida's current leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. As such, some analysts have described the militant, who trained as cleric in the west-African state of Mauretania, as a relatively youthful face for the increasingly elderly senior command of the battered organisation. Captured in the aftermath of the hardline Islamist movement's defeat, Libi became famous in militant circles when he escaped from Bagram air force base north of Kabul in 2005 after three years of imprisonment.
Certainly al-Qaida has made sure to boost his profile with numerous appearances in its propaganda videos. His firebrand rhetorical style was apparently seen as effective, especially when backed by the kudos of his escape. Libi's other duties within the group have been less clear, however, and some Western security analysts have suggested that his role has been restricted by his relatively limited intelligence, at least compared with intellectually capable if dogmatic men such as Bin Laden and Zawahiri. It is then that he is thought to have sworn the bayat, the oath of personal allegiance to Bin Laden, and thus effectively joined al-Qaida.
As ever in these situations, the possibly deceased man has been assigned a number. He was, US sources quoted by Reuters say, al-Qaida's number two. Libi was born in the mid-1960s and was more than a decade younger than al-Qaida's current leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri. As such, some analysts have described the militant, who trained as a cleric in the west African state of Mauretania, as a relatively youthful face for the increasingly elderly senior command of the battered organisation.
The logic behind this is that Libi is thought to have replaced Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the extremely capable veteran militant who was acting as chief of staff for Bin Laden in the months before the al-Qaida leader was killed, and then for Zawahiri. Rahman was killed by a drone strike last August. Certainly al-Qaida has made sure to boost his profile with numerous appearances in its propaganda videos. His firebrand rhetorical style was apparently seen as effective, especially when backed by the kudos of his escape.
But with al-Qaida's structure increasingly fragmented through the loss of so many senior and middle-ranking figures, it is difficult to assign any individual a clear position in a hierarchy. This is particularly the case with someone such as Libi whose exact role is understood so poorly. Libi's other duties within the group have been less clear, however, and some western security analysts have suggested that his role has been restricted by his relatively limited intelligence, at least compared with intellectually capable if dogmatic men such as Bin Laden and Zawahiri.
One important point is the clear difference between Libi and Rahman, the man he is supposed to have replaced. The latter was a hardened operative who had seen at first hand the violent militant struggle in Algeria in the 1990s and travelled widely during the following decade as a personal envoy of Bin Laden. He was known and respected as a very serious operator. As ever in these situations, he has been assigned a number. He was, US sources quoted by Reuters say, al-Qaida's number two.
Libi, despite his high profile, is not of the same calibre. His death would be another blow to a battered organisation – but perhaps not of the magnitude some might like to claim. The logic behind this is that Libi was thought to have replaced Atiyah Abd al-Rahman, the extremely capable veteran militant who was acting as chief of staff for Bin Laden in the months before the al-Qaida leader was killed, and then for Zawahiri. Rahman was killed by a drone strike last August.
But with al-Qaida's structure increasingly fragmented through the loss of so many senior and middle-ranking figures, it is difficult to assign any individual a clear position in a hierarchy. This is particularly the case with someone such as Libi whose exact role was understood so poorly.
One important point is the clear difference between Libi and Rahman, the man he is supposed to have replaced.
The latter was a hardened operative who had seen at first hand the violent militant struggle in Algeria in the 1990s and travelled widely during the following decade as a personal envoy of Bin Laden. He was known and respected as a very serious operator.
Libi, despite his high profile, was not of the same calibre. His death will be another blow to a battered organisation – but perhaps not of the magnitude some might like to claim.