EXCLUSIVE: Pakistani Military Sources Say Zawahiri May Be Dead

ABC News ^ | January 13, 2006 | Brian Ross

[John W]

Jan. 13, 2006 — Today, according to Pakistani military sources, U.S. aircraft attacked a compound known to be frequented by high level al Qaeda operatives. Pakistani officials tell ABC News that al Qaeda leader Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden's top lieutenant, may have been among them.

U.S. intelligence for the last few days indicated that Zawahiri might be in the location or about to arrive, although there is still no confirmation from U.S. officials that he was among the victims.

[A Citizen Reporter]

A double bump

[SeaBiscuit]

Are these your words, didn't see this in your link, "A reliable source with high-level U.S. contacts tells me that U.S. "really believes" we might have whacked him."

[oceanview]

10 hellfires? each drone carries 2, is that right?

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Who's that douche bag?

[billhilly]

Personal foul. Here is a yellow flag. Hehehe!

[Right Wing Assault]

U.S. "really believes" we might have whacked him

Spoken like a politician. You can say that about anything if you put the 'might' in there.

[Oorang]

Aljazeera has the story now:

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/409C4E53-C438-40BE-8686-B2AE2E48B4AB.htm

[SevenMinusOne]

If the reports of bin Laden's demise or incapacity are true

They aren't - UBL is eking out a survival in these same border regions as is (was) Zawahiri. He is very much alive and being hunted.

[Toespi]

"but I think we've been patient long enough."

Patient? Yes, we have been very patient, in Mogadishu, Kobar Towers, USS Cole, Lockerbie, 1993 WTC, OKC and the list goes on. We were patient with this heathens for many years, and I have to ask, did you feel we were patient long enough then or just now?

[TADSLOS]

It has been almost 4 1/2 years since 9/11, and the best we can possibly say is that Zawahiri *may* be dead

"We didn't make that claim, Pakistan did.

I can't understand why we don't have 500k troops in eastern Afghanistan right now.

How many combat troops available do you think we have? (not that numbers matter so much as composition and capability)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Great minds separated by six seconds. :O)

[Txsleuth]

I'm home now....so I can drink....and boy would this be a great occasion!!!

[Dog]

Predator strike on a village called Damodola(sp) we had good intel Zawahiri was in this compound...a strike package of I think 4 or 5 Predators fired 10 hellfire missile into this compoound....killed 18 ...awaiting DNA testing now.

[marmar]

Some people forget how political this war has become and how badly are Warrior hands are tied. They are not allowed to do there job to the fullest of their potential. This is one of their (the Troops) biggest peeves.......

[Dilbert56]

Pop quiz, can the F-16 carry hellfires or is that a chopper/drone exclusive? Might explain 10 showing up all at once.

[xmission]

It says "In recognitin of support for President Bush and the Republic party" right on it IN GOLD

Don't you wish you were me? (g)

[Jrabbit]

Yes

[ShowMeMom]

A reliable source with high-level U.S. contacts tells me that U.S. "really believes" we might have whacked him.

Whacking Zawahri and making the Dems on the Judiciary committee look like idiots all in the same week.....could we be so lucky??

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Hmm...tomorrow's headline: "Alleged Terrorist Brutally Slain By CIA Overkill"

Ten Hellfire's. Somebody there who needed killing real bad.

[csvset]

where in Pakistan was this?

This a map from the BBC.

The raid took place in the village of Damadola in the Bajaur tribal area, about 200km (125 miles) north-west of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad.

The village is about 7km (4.5 miles) inside Pakistan.