Zawahiri Was Target in U.S. Attack on Religious School in
Pakistan
Alexis Debat Reports:
10/30/06 "ABC" -- -- Ayman al Zawahiri was the target of a
Predator missile attack this morning on a religious school in
Pakistan, according to Pakistani intelligence sources.
ABC News has learned the raid was launched after U.S.
intelligence received tips and examined Predator reconnaissance
indicating that al Qaeda's No. 2 man may have been staying at
the school, which is located in the Bajaur region near the
village that is thought to be al Qaeda's winter headquarters.
Despite earlier reports that the missiles had been launched by
Pakistani military helicopters, Pakistani intelligence sources
now tell ABC News that the missiles were fired from a U.S.
Predator drone plane.
Between two and five senior al Qaeda militants were killed in
the attack, including the mastermind of the airliners plot in
the U.K., according to Pakistani intelligence sources.
No word yet on whether or not Zawahiri was killed in the raid,
but one Pakistani intelligence source did express doubt that
Zawahiri would have been staying in a madrassa, which is an
obvious target for strikes against militants. That source,
however, did express confidence that Pakistani intelligence is
closing in on Zawahiri's location.
One of the clerics who is believed to have been killed today,
Maulana Liaquat, was one of the two main local leaders believed
to be protecting Zawahiri.
Pakistani intelligence sources tell ABC News they believe they
have "boxed" Zawahiri in a 40-square-mile area between the
Khalozai Valley in Bajaur and the village of Pashat in Kunar,
Afghanistan. They hope to capture or kill him in the next few
months.
Alexis Debat is an ABC News consultant.
Copyright © 2006 ABCNews Iternet Ventures
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