Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Al-Qaeda Regional Leader Killed in Algeria

Via magharebia.com -

The leader of al-Qaeda's Al Ansar military wing, Mesrour Belkacem, was among four terrorists killed late Sunday in a joint Algerian army and judicial police operation in Draa Ben Kheda, near Tizi Ouzou, local press reported on Monday (May 18th). Belkacem replaced Ali Ben Touati, alias Abou Tamim, as leader of the Kabylie-region terrorist group last January after Tamim surrendered to authorities. Tamim, 39, joined the GSPC in 1997 and began leading the Al Ansar brigade in 2006. His surrender came in response to former GSPC chief Hassan Hattab's appeal for armed Islamist fighters to lay down their weapons.

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In related news, The Long Journal reports....
A US Predator airstrike launched against a Taliban and al Qaeda safe house in Pakistan’s Northwest Frontier Province in March this year killed a mid-level al Qaeda leader.

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Waheed was a mid-level al Qaeda leader responsible for training members of al Qaeda’s paramilitary Shadow Army in military tactics as well as training fighters in first aid and medical techniques, US intelligence officials told The Long War Journal.

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