A US-born senior Al Qaeda leader was among four militants killed Friday morning in Yemen. United States and Yemeni officials confirmed Anwar al-Awlaki died in an airstrike about 5 miles from the town of Khashef. Al-Awlaki was traveling with Samir Khan, who was also an American, and two other unidentified militants when the strike occurred.
An unnamed U.S. official tells Fox News the airstrike was directed by the CIA and carried out by Joint Special Operations Command. A Yemeni government official speaking anonymously said “successful joint intelligence-sharing” between their intelligence officials and the United States led to the strike.
Al-Awlaki was born in New Mexico. At the age of 7 he returned to Yemen with his family, but came back to the United States in the early 90s to attend college. Al-Awlaki left again in 2002 and became one of the top terrorist recruiters in the world. He has been linked to several attacks and attempted attacks on America, including the 2009 “underwear bomber” and the 2009 shooting at Fort Hood that was carried out by Army Maj. Nidal Hasan.
President Obama called al-Awlaki’s death a “major blow” to Al Qaeda. "The death of Awlaki is a major blow to Al Qaeda's most active operational affiliate. He took the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans ... and he repeatedly called on individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda,” Obama said.
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