US Launches Strike Against Resurgence Al Qaeda

On November 4^th, the Pentagon confirmed that one of al Qaeda’s senior leaders, Nayef Salam Muhammad Ujaym al-Hababi, was killed in a drone strike by the US.

The attack was carried out on October 23^rd in eastern Afghanistan of the Kunar Province. The US drone strike was targeted at al-Hababi and his deputy, Balal al-Utabi. Hellfire missiles were launched at two different compounds where al-Hababi and al-Utabi were hiding separately.

This attack is considered one of the most significant strikes against the al Qaeda in Afghanistan in years. Al-Hababi was added on the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list earlier this year in February by the US Treasury Department.

Al-Hababi, also known as Farouq al Qahtani al Qatari and Sheik Farooq, was the emir in eastern Afghanistan since 2015. He has targeted US coalition forces in Afghanistan for years and helped fundraise money for al Qaeda. Al-Hababi was also responsible for setting up safe havens across the country for terrorists. It is thought that he had longstanding ties with Osama bin Laden; files were recovered during bin Laden’s raid in 2011 that reference al-Hababi and the work he has done. Al-Hababi and al-Utabi were both heavily involved with attacks targeting Europe and the United States. Al-Hababi has also provided arms and logistics for Taliban fighters and other jihadists in Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda is still active in Afghanistan under the current leader, Ayman al Zawahiri. Earlier this year, the US military said al Qaeda is stronger in Afghanistan than previously estimated by the Obama administration and US intelligence officials.

Zawahiri threatened the US with 9/11 style attacks earlier this year in a video that went viral. Al Qaeda also made a threat to New York City, Texas and Virginia, claiming they would attack on November 7^th, the day before the US Presidential Election.

Al Qaeda has more than 150 training camps in Afghanistan. They have conducted operations in 25 of the 34 provinces in Afghanistan, but could not carry out these operations without the support of the Taliban. Zawahiri has recently sworn allegiance with Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s emir.

According to US officials, Siraj Haqqani, Taliban’s deputy commander, is also an al Qaeda top facilitator in Afghanistan. The Taliban control approximately 10 percent of Afghanistan, while they battle another 20 percent of the country against the Afghan government.

The Defense Ministry of Afghanistan says al Qaeda is staying quiet and reorganizing themselves as they prepare for future attacks.

Al Qaeda’s fatal resilience in Afghanistan has caught American and Afghan authorities off guard. The rebirth of al Qaeda is something the US and Middle Eastern countries should continue to watch out for. Even with 9,800 American troops in Afghanistan, al Qaeda’s competition against the Islamic State has helped the world divert its attention off al Qaeda. With 15 years of invading Afghanistan, the US is still targeting leading figures associated with al Qaeda and still active in the War on Terror.