Al-Qaeda leader Abu Yahya al-Libi has been killed by U.S. drone attacks in Pakistan

1, 2, the Army’s comin’ for you…

Al Qaeda Leader Abu Yahya al-Libi Has Been Killed By U.S. Drones

Abu Yahya al-Libi, the No. 2 man in al Qaeda and a longtime public face of the terror network, is dead, White House spokesman Jay Carney confirmed Tuesday.

Al-Libi’s death was “another serious blow to core al Qaeda,” said Carney, who was unable to provide further details.

“His death is part of the degradation taking place in core al Qaeda in the last several years,” Carney said.

Earlier Tuesday, U.S. officials said that al-Libi was killed by a CIA drone strike in Pakistan launched Monday.

Al-Libi’s death marks one of the most significant blows to al Qaeda since the U.S. military killed Osama bin Laden in a daring nighttime raid in Pakistan a year ago.

Al-Libi was second-in-command behind al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took the helm after bin Laden’s death.

“There is no one who even comes close in terms of replacing the expertise (al Qaeda) has just lost,” said the U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

Al-Libi “played a critical role in the group’s planning against the West, providing oversight of the external operations efforts,” the official said.

“Zawahiri will be hard-pressed to find any one person who can readily step into Abu Yahya’s shoes,” the official said. “In addition to his gravitas as a longstanding member of AQ’s leadership, Abu Yahya’s religious credentials gave him the authority to issue fatwas, operational approvals and guidance to the core group in Pakistan and regional affiliates.”

The U.S. Armed Forces is NOT to be f**ked with! We appreciate the hard work that the men and women of the military put in to keep us all safe. Hoo-rah…

Image via CNN

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