Al Qaeda No. 2 Ayman al Zawahiri Injured?

[Dog Walker]

Exclusive: Al Qaeda No. 2 Injured?
Unverified Letter Obtained By CBS News Urgently Requests Doctor To Treat Ayman al Zawahiri

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/01/eveningnews/main4316193.shtml

(CBS) Ayman al Zawahiri - the second most powerful leader in al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden's No. 2 - may be critically wounded and possibly dead, CBS News chief foreign affairs correspondent Lara Logan reports exclusively.

CBS News has obtained a copy of an intercepted letter from sources in Pakistan, which urgently requests a doctor to treat Zawahiri. He's believed to be somewhere in Pakistan's remote tribal areas of Pakistan.

The letter refers to Sheikh Dr. Ayman ul Zawahiri by name - and says that he is in "severe pain" and his "injuries are infected."

It is reportedly written by local Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, whose signature and seal are visible on the letter.

The Taliban logo and the Mehsud's seal have been confirmed by experts as legitimate.

However, CBS News has not been able to confirm the authenticity of Baitullah Mehsud's signature and seal.

The letter is dated July 29 - one day after a U.S. air strike that killed al Qaeda weapons expert Abu Khabab al-Masri, and five other Arabs in South Waziristan.

U.S. authorities have said they do not have information that Zawahiri was present during Monday's strike, or that he was injured.

However, a counter-intelligence expert and other U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News that the U.S. is looking into reports that Zawahiri is dead.

Logan reports that while there have been false death rumors regarding al Zawahiri before, there have been no denials yet from Pakistan, the U.S. or al Qaeda Web sites.

???

 

[tomahawk6]

A Pred strike on 28 July may have killled Ayman Zawahiri.The airstrike was on July 28, and sources were reporting that an announcement from the U.S. government is expected soon. Hope it pans out.

 

[Dog Walker]

No evidence of al Qaeda No. 2's illness or death, U.S. says
(CNN) -- U.S. counterterrorism officials said Friday they have seen no evidence to support a media report that al Qaeda's No. 2 official, Ayman al-Zawahiri, may be critically wounded or dead.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/08/01/alzawahiri/index.html



Pakistan says no clue on report of Zawahri's fate
ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The Pakistan military said on Saturday it had no information about a U.S. media report that al Qaeda deputy leader Ayman al Zawahri, might have been critically wounded or possibly killed by a missile attack, though a senior intelligence officer rejected the report.

Pakistani Taliban deny Zawahri dead or wounded
ISLAMABAD, Aug 2 (Reuters) - A Pakistani Taliban spokesman denied on Saturday a U.S. media report that al Qaeda number two, Ayman al Zawahri, might have been killed or wounded in a U.S. missile strike in Pakistan's border region last Monday.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/ISL244809.htm

 

[The Bread Guy]

Highlights from a good overview of what's out there at the moment....

Analysis: Reports of Zawahiri’s death are based on suspect sources
Bill Roggio, Long War Journal, 1 Aug 08 (updated 2 Aug 08)

(....)

All of these rumors have been based on Pakistani intelligence sources, which makes the allegations suspect. Without confirmation from the US military or intelligence, the reports from Pakistan should be viewed with deep skepticism.

(....)

The Pakistani military and intelligence agencies have made a nearly identical false report on the death of senior al Qaeda leaders. The reports come as Pakistani Prime Minister Gilani was conducting a visit to the United States and Pakistan's military and primary intelligence agency have come under fire for supporting extremists. Also, al Qaeda has been silent on the issue of the reports.

(....)

al Qaeda and its media apparatus, and its network of online forums have been silent on the issue. Zawahiri's death would be difficult for al Qaeda to conceal from its members. And al Qaeda has issued "martyrdom" eulogies for its leaders when killed ....  the jihadi Internet forums, which are closely monitored by US intelligence and private intelligence companies, have been silent on the possibility of Zawahiri or Khabab's death. Al Qaeda would jump on the propaganda opportunity to promote the life and struggles of Zawahiri, and praise his death at the hands of the Americans.

(....)

 

[geo]

Information
Dissinformation

Claimed & refuted..........

Welcome to the wonderful world of intelligence.

Youwze... my head hjurts 

 

[jacksparrow]

From the UK newsoftheworld thispast Sunday

"INTELLIGENCE chiefs yesterday denied reports that Osama Bin Laden's right-hand man Ayman al-Zawahiri had been killed in a missile strike.
Pakistan and US officials had "no information" the al-Qaeda No2 was among six Taliban killed in a Pakistani tribal area.

"