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Afghanistan
Key Big Turban Killed in Afghanistan
2011-04-26
A NATO airstrike earlier this month killed a key Al Qaeda number three operative in Afghanistan -- a regional commander in charge of suicide bombings and cash flow, the international military coalition said Tuesday.

NATO identified the man killed in the April 13 airstrike in Dangam district of eastern Kunar province as Abu Hafs al-Najdi, also known as Abdul Ghani. The alliance said the strike also killed a number of other insurgents, including another Al Qaeda leader known as Waqas.
More from the Wall Street Journal:
The U.S.-led coalition said Tuesday it had killed the second-most-wanted insurgent in Afghanistan, a senior al Qaeda leader from Saudi Arabia who was responsible for setting up terrorist training camps and launching attacks on U.S. and Afghan forces.

The Saudi, identified by the coalition as Abu Hafs Al Najdi, also known as Abdul Ghani, operated mostly from the mountainous Kunar province in northeast Afghanistan. A list of the 85 most wanted terrorists released by the Saudi government in 2009 placed him 21st; that list gave his real name as Salef Nayef Eid al Mahlafi, and put his current age at 27.
Posted by:GolfBravoUSMC

#5  Detailed information not released until about two weeks later.... I wonder - did we perhaps send some SpecOps folks in after the attack to collect cell phones, computers, etc.? Will we be seeing 5-10 similar reports in another 2 weeks? One can only hope.....
Posted by: Glenmore   2011-04-26 20:12  

#4  Even more from the Telegraph:

Abu Hafs al-Najdi, also known as Abdul Ghani, a Saudi Arabian, was killed 12 days ago in Dangam district, on April 13, as he met other senior insurgents and al Qaeda members, an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) statement said.

"Abdul Ghani was responsible for the co-ordination of numerous high-profile attacks. On the morning of his death, he reportedly directed the suicide attack that killed tribal elder Malik Zarin and nine other Afghan civilians," ISAF said.

ISAF said he was one of more than 25 al Qaeda operatives killed in Afghanistan during operations over the past month in the lead-up to Afghanistan's summer fighting months.

SAF began hunting him in Afghanistan in 2007.

It looks like the connections mapping program we used to such effect in Iraq is starting to pay dividends in Afghanistan. Well done to all involved!
Posted by: trailing wife   2011-04-26 15:01  

#3  "...a regional commander in charge of suicide bombings and cash flow..." Age 27. This says a lot.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2011-04-26 14:37  

#2  Ululululululooooooo!

Allan snackbar!
Posted by: Frank G   2011-04-26 14:03  

#1  Music Maestro, wine, bring on the dancing girls.

Time for celebration...
Posted by: Bill Clinton   2011-04-26 13:51  

00:01