Al Qaeda Shadow Army commander killed in US strike

A commander in al Qaeda's military organization was among 17 Islamist extremists killed during today's strikes in the Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan in Pakistan.

Zuhaib al Zahibi, a commander in al Qaeda's Shadow Army, or the Lashkar al Zil, was among seven Arab "foreigners" and nine Taliban fighters killed in one of two airstrikes in the Datta Khel region in North Waziristan, a senior US military intelligence official told The Long War Journal. Two other Taliban fighters were also killed in an earlier, separate strike in the Datta Khel region.

Zahib and the six al Qaeda and nine Haqqani Network fighters were killed after a swarm of five or six unmanned strike aircraft, the Predator or its more lethal successor the Reaper, opened fire on a series of targets. Ten Hellfire missiles were launched by the remotely piloted aircraft against a safe house, a cave, and a vehicle.

Zahibi was first reported killed by The Washington Post. A Pakistani intelligence official described him as "a well-known al Qaeda commander."

The strikes took place in a region where both the Haqqani Network and North Waziristan Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadar have influence. An intelligence official contacted by The Long War Journal said the Haqqani Network was providing safe haven to Zahibi and his Shadow Army cadre.

The Pakistani military and government have refused US pressure to move against the Haqqani Network and Bahadar. Instead, the Pakistani military negotiated a ceasefire with Bahadar and his ally Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan that allows the military to move through their territories without being attacked as it operates against Hakeemullah Mehsud's Taliban faction in South Waziristan.

The Haqqanis, Bahadar, and Nazir all shelter al Qaeda leaders and operatives, and their forces operate against NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the military commander of the Haqqani Network, is close to al Qaeda and is thought to be a member of al Qaeda's military council.

For a summary of US strikes inside Pakistan in 2008, see "US strikes in 2 villages in South Waziristan".

(14)

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Advertising: LWJ Supports:	(14) Al Qaeda Shadow Army commander killed in US strike By Bill RoggioDecember 17, 2009 A commander in al Qaeda's military organization was among 17 Islamist extremists killed during today's strikes in the Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan in Pakistan. Zuhaib al Zahibi, a commander in al Qaeda's Shadow Army, or the Lashkar al Zil, was among seven Arab "foreigners" and nine Taliban fighters killed in one of two airstrikes in the Datta Khel region in North Waziristan, a senior US military intelligence official told The Long War Journal. Two other Taliban fighters were also killed in an earlier, separate strike in the Datta Khel region. Zahib and the six al Qaeda and nine Haqqani Network fighters were killed after a swarm of five or six unmanned strike aircraft, the Predator or its more lethal successor the Reaper, opened fire on a series of targets. Ten Hellfire missiles were launched by the remotely piloted aircraft against a safe house, a cave, and a vehicle. Zahibi was first reported killed by The Washington Post. A Pakistani intelligence official described him as "a well-known al Qaeda commander." The strikes took place in a region where both the Haqqani Network and North Waziristan Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadar have influence. An intelligence official contacted by The Long War Journal said the Haqqani Network was providing safe haven to Zahibi and his Shadow Army cadre. The Pakistani military and government have refused US pressure to move against the Haqqani Network and Bahadar. Instead, the Pakistani military negotiated a ceasefire with Bahadar and his ally Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan that allows the military to move through their territories without being attacked as it operates against Hakeemullah Mehsud's Taliban faction in South Waziristan. The Haqqanis, Bahadar, and Nazir all shelter al Qaeda leaders and operatives, and their forces operate against NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the military commander of the Haqqani Network, is close to al Qaeda and is thought to be a member of al Qaeda's military council. • Al Qaeda Shadow Army commander killed in US strike Dec. 17, 2009 • US strike kills 4 al Qaeda, 2 Taliban in South Waziristan Dec. 10, 2009 • US airstrike kills 3 in North Waziristan Dec. 8, 2009 • US airstrike kills 4 Taliban in North Waziristan Nov. 18, 2009 • US kills 4 in North Waziristan airstrike Nov. 4, 2009 • US airstrike targets al Qaeda in North Waziristan Oct. 21, 2009 • US kills 4 in strike on Haqqani Network in North Waziristan Oct. 14, 2009 • US strike kills Haqqani Network and foreign fighters in North Waziristan Sept. 30, 2009 • US aircraft strike in North and South Waziristan Sept. 29, 2009 • US airstrike targets Haqqani Network in North Waziristan Sept. 24, 2009 • Two al Qaeda leaders reported killed in North Waziristan strike Sept. 14, 2009 • 12 killed in second US strike in North Waziristan Sept. 8, 2009 • Senior al Qaeda leaders reported killed in North Waziristan strike Sept. 7, 2009 • US strikes Taliban compound in South Waziristan, 8 killed Aug. 27, 2009 • US Predators target the Haqqanis in North Waziristan Aug. 20, 2009 • US kills 14 in strike on Taliban training camp in South Waziristan Aug. 11, 2009 • Baitullah Mehsud's wife killed in Predator attack Aug. 5, 2009 • US Predator strikes in North Waziristan, kills 5 July 17, 2009 • US strikes Taliban communications center in South Waziristan July 10, 2009 • US kills 25 Taliban in second Predator strike in South Waziristan July 8, 2009 • US Predator strike on Taliban camp kills 8 in South Waziristan July 8, 2009 • US Predator strike kills 14 Taliban in South Waziristan July 7, 2009 • 13 Taliban fighters killed in US airstrikes in Pakistan July 3, 2009 • Scores of Taliban killed in second US strike in South Waziristan June 23, 2009 • Six killed in US Predator attack in South Waziristan June 23, 2009 • US strikes target Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan June 18, 2009 • US kills 5 in South Waziristan strike June 14, 2009 • US strikes Taliban, al Qaeda in North Waziristan May 16, 2009 • US strikes again in South Waziristan May 12, 2009 • US strike targets Baitullah Mehsud territory in South Waziristan May 9, 2009 • US strike kills 10 Taliban in South Waziristan April 29, 2009 • US airstrike targets Taliban training camp in South Waziristan April 19, 2009 • US Predator kills four in South Waziristan strike April 8, 2009 • US strikes Haqqani Network in North Waziristan April 4, 2009 • US launches first strike in Arakzai tribal agency April 1, 2009 • Latest US strike targets al Qaeda safe house in North Waziristan March 26, 2009 • US airstrike kills 8 in Baitullah Mehsud's hometown March 25, 2009 • US launches second strike outside of Pakistan's tribal areas March 15, 2009 • US missile strike in Kurram agency kills 14 March 12, 2009 • US airstrike kills 8 in South Waziristan March 1, 2009 • US airstrike in Pakistan's Kurram tribal agency kills 30 Feb. 16, 2009 • US Predator strike in South Waziristan kills 25 Feb. 14, 2009 • US strikes al Qaeda in North and South Waziristan Jan. 23, 2009 • US hits South Waziristan in second strike Jan. 2, 2009 • US kills 4 al Qaeda operatives in South Waziristan strike Jan. 1, 2009 For a summary of US strikes inside Pakistan in 2008, see "US strikes in 2 villages in South Waziristan". (14) Find related articles: Al Qaeda, Pakistan	Donate --> Search LWJ Special Reports The Covert US Air Campaign in Pakistan Get up-to-date information and statistics on the US air campaign targeting al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan's northwest. Updated July 25, 2010 The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan A look at the Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan's top leaders. The Quetta Shura A look at the Afghan Taliban's top leaders, military councils, and committees. On the Radio Bill Roggio is a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show from Monday through Friday to discuss the war. Check John's site for the time. Click here to listen live online at WABC. Photos Failed Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad, from his martyrdom tape. Photos Archives Videos Swat Taliban Mullah Fazlullah. Videos Archives Multimedia Map details Taliban control in Pakistan's northwest. LWJ in the news: The Guardian, in its War Logs series, cited Bill Roggio's report on the capture of al Qaeda security chief Dr. Amin al Haq. Politico quoted Thomas Joscelyn on the trial of Gitmo detainee Omar Khadr. The Council on Foreign Relations cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. The Guardian cited Bill Roggio's report on a Predator strike in Pakistan. Eurasianet quoted Bill Roggio on the establishment of US-funded border checkpoints and training centers across Central Asia. Dawn cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. National Public Radio interviewed Bill Roggio about negotiations with the Taliban in Afghanistan. The Times of India summarized Bill Roggio's report on the US military's identification of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based groups as a direct threat to Coalition forces in Afghanistan. OneIndia summarized Bill Roggio's report on the US military's identification of the Lashkar-e-Taiba and other Pakistan-based groups as a direct threat to Coalition forces in Afghanistan. UPI cited Bill Roggio's report on the death of a Taliban commander in Pakistan. The Hindustan Times quoted Bill Roggio on Lashkar-e-Taiba's operations in Afghanistan. The New York Times cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. The Los Angeles Times cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. The Institute for the Study of War cited Bill Roggio's report that Siraj Haqqani is on al Qaeda' Shura Majlis. The New York Times' At War quoted Bill Roggio's report on General McChrystal's statements and his likelihood of retaining his command. The American Enterprise Institute cited Bill Roggio's report on jihadist networks in Pakistan's Punjab. The London School of Economics cited Bill Roggio's report on a Haqqani Network attack in Kabul. US News and World Report cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. The Hindustan Times quoted Bill Roggio and cited LWJ's statistics on US airstrikes in Pakistan. The Inter Press Service cited Bill Roggio's report on the number of al Qaeda camps in northwestern Pakistan. More items in the news Covert Radio Hosted by Brett Winterble

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