DAR AL HARB/ISLAM - U.S.A./UMMAH: THE DEATH OF AL LIBI & WHAT IT MAY MEAN

Analysis: A turning point in the jihad
By CLAUDE SALHANI
UPI Contributing Editor

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Is the killing of a top al-Qaida commander by a CIA drone the beginning of a turning point in the war on terrorism?

Ikhlaas.org, a pro-Islamist Web site known to often post communiques from radicals and terrorists, confirmed the death last week of Abu Laith al-Libi, one of the most wanted al-Qaida operatives. The statement appeared Jan. 31 and was immediately noticed by the London-based Asia-Pacific Foundation, which specializes in tracking terrorist activities.

The Web site said al-Libi, whose name indicates his Libyan nationality, was "martyred along with a group of his brothers on the territory of Islamic Pakistan."

The information that al-Libi was killed by a CIA airstrike was confirmed by top U.S. officials to CNN.

Al-Libi had a bounty of $200,000 on his head. According to the Asia-Pacific Foundation, "al-Libi's death is the most significant since the arrest of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed in Rawalpindi, Pakistan in March 2003."

Al-Libi is believed to have organized the bombing on the U.S. military base in Bagram, Afghanistan, during U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney's visit in February 2007. The attack killed 23 people.

The London Asia-Pacific Foundation believes al-Libi's death was linked to what is suspected to be a U.S. Predator drone strike on a village near Mir Ali, in Pakistan's North Waziristan region. The strike is reported to have occurred on Jan. 29. Twelve people were killed, among them a number of Arabs and Uzbeks, "as well as local Taliban members," it said.

Along with al-Libi, another senior member of al-Qaida identified as Abu Obaidah al-Masri, and who is believed to be implicated in several terrorist plots in Europe, was also targeted by the attack.

The "sudden discovery" of such high-ranking members of Osama bin Laden's terror network in Pakistan contradicts claims by the country's president, Pervez Musharraf.

"It has the potential to embarrass President Pervez Musharraf, who repeatedly said he would not sanction U.S. military action against al-Qaida members operating in his country," stated a comprehensive study by the APF.

The foundation's analysis says al-Libi's death would be felt more by the Taliban than al-Qaida. However, points out the report, "both the Taliban and al-Qaida has proved itself to be resilient to individual losses and setbacks."

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Pertinent Links:

1) Analysis: A turning point in the jihad