Abu Hamza Rabia
Encyclopedia
Abu Hamza Rabia was an Egypt
ian member of al-Qaeda
, described in news accounts as a high-ranking leader within the organization's hierarchy. His death, in a surprise drone attack
, was widely reported by media outlets around the world.
According to American intelligence officials, Rabia was al-Qaeda's third in command. Few details have been made available about his background, although CNN
reports confirmed his Egyptian origins and indicated that he was in his thirties. He and four other men, two of them also Arabs, were killed in the village of Asoray, near Miranshah
, the capital of North Waziristan
. His death stirred controversy because it was Pakistani policy that US forces were not allowed in the country.
Initially US and Pakistani authorities denied that the surprise airstrike was launched from a US predator drone.
In a subsequent development, the murder of local journalist Hayatullah Khan
, whose body was found months after his disappearance, was tied to his investigation into Rabia's death.
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian member of al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
, described in news accounts as a high-ranking leader within the organization's hierarchy. His death, in a surprise drone attack
Drone attacks on Pakistan by the United States of America
The United States government, led by the Central Intelligence Agency's Special Activities Division, has made a series of attacks on targets in northwest Pakistan since 2004 using drones . These attacks are part of the US' War on Terrorism campaign, seeking to defeat Taliban and Al-Qaeda militants...
, was widely reported by media outlets around the world.
According to American intelligence officials, Rabia was al-Qaeda's third in command. Few details have been made available about his background, although CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reports confirmed his Egyptian origins and indicated that he was in his thirties. He and four other men, two of them also Arabs, were killed in the village of Asoray, near Miranshah
Miranshah
Miranshah is the capital or headquarters of North Waziristan in Pakistan. It is the site of a town, which has s small airfield that was built by the British for World War II. The area in which Miranshah sits is extremely dangerous mainly due to Taliban activities and U.S. Drone...
, the capital of North Waziristan
North Waziristan
North Waziristan is the northern part of Waziristan, a mountainous region of northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering . Waziristan comprises the area west and south-west of Peshawar between the Tochi river to the north and the Gomal river to the south, forming part of Pakistan's...
. His death stirred controversy because it was Pakistani policy that US forces were not allowed in the country.
Initially US and Pakistani authorities denied that the surprise airstrike was launched from a US predator drone.
In a subsequent development, the murder of local journalist Hayatullah Khan
Hayatullah Khan
Hayatullah Khan was a Pakistani journalist who reported from Pakistan's Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Khan wrote extensively on Al-Qaeda, Taliban and the heavy fighting among tribes in Waziristan, where he was found dead six months after his reporting contradicted Pakistan's official...
, whose body was found months after his disappearance, was tied to his investigation into Rabia's death.