Abu Hamza Rabia
Abu Hamza Rabia(/ˈɑːbuːˈhɑːmzərəˈbiːə/AH-booHAHM-zə rə-BEE-ə;c. 1960 – November 30, 2005) was an Egyptian member ofal-Qaeda,described in news accounts as a high-ranking leader within the organization's hierarchy. His death in a surpriseCIA drone attackwas widely reported by media outlets around the world.[1][2][3]
According to American intelligence officials, Rabia was al-Qaeda's third in command. Few details have been made available about his background, althoughCNNreports confirmed his Egyptian origins and indicated that he was in his thirties.[1]He and four other men, two of them also Arabs, were killed in the village of Asoray, nearMiranshah,the capital ofNorth Waziristan.[2]His death stirred controversy because it was Pakistani policy that US forces were not allowed in the country.[1][4] Initially US and Pakistani authorities denied that the surprise airstrike was launched from a USPredator drone.
In a subsequent development, the murder of local journalistHayatullah Khan,whose body was found months after his disappearance, was tied to his investigation into Rabia's death.[5]
References
[edit]- ^abc "Al Qaeda No. 3 dead, but how?".CNN.December 4, 2005.Retrieved2008-02-10.
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Whitlock, Craig;Khan, Kamran(December 4, 2005)."Blast in Pakistan Kills Al Qaeda Commander: Figure Reportedly Hit by U.S. Missile Strike".The Washington Post.pp. A01.Retrieved2008-02-10.
Intelligence officials said Rabia, an Egyptian, had replacedAbu Faraj Libbi,another al Qaeda leader who was captured inPakistanin May. Libbi had taken over the role held byKhalid Sheikh Mohammed,the architect of theSept. 11, 2001 attacksin the United States who was also caught in Pakistan, in March 2003.
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"Blast 'kills al-Qaeda commander'".BBC News.3 December 2005.Retrieved2008-02-10.
Egyptian-born Abu Hamza Rabia, described as al-Qaeda's operational commander, was among five militants killed in a blast in North Waziristan.
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"Shrapnel Points to Drone in Pakistan Attack".Fox News.December 5, 2005. Archived fromthe originalon December 27, 2010.RetrievedFebruary 10,2008.
U.S. officials have refused to give details of the attack on the house where Hamza Rabia reportedly died, but they have told FOX News that it was a joint operation involving U.S. and Pakistani resources.
- ^ Khan, Aamer Ahmed (19 June 2006)."Mystery of murdered tribal journalist".BBC News.Retrieved2008-02-10.
