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U.S. Confirms Death Of Al-Qaeda No. 2

June 05, 2012

The White House has confirmed the death of Al-Qaeda's second-in-command, calling it a "major blow" to the terror network.

White House spokesman Jay Carney would not specify how Abu Yahya al-Libi was killed.

Unnamed American officials earlier told news agencies that he was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Pakistan on June 4.

Carney described Libi as an operational leader and a "general manager" of Al-Qaeda.

He said Libi had a range of experience that will be hard for Al-Qaeda to replicate and that his death brings the terror network closer to its ultimate demise.

Libi is the latest in the dozen-plus senior commanders removed in the U.S. war against Al-Qaeda since Navy commandos killed Osama bin Laden last year.

Al-Qaeda's core in Pakistan's tribal areas is considered to have been significantly weakened by U.S. drone strikes, which Islamabad objects to.

Pakistan summoned a senior U.S. diplomat on June 5 and lodged a protest over drone strikes on its northwestern tribal areas.

Pakistan's Foreign Office said Richard Hoagland, the U.S. charge d'affaires, was "officially conveyed the government's serious concern regarding drone strikes in Pakistani territory."

Islamabad calls the strikes "unlawful, against international law, and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty."

Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-drone-strikes-al-libi-killed/24604628.html

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U.S. Confirms Death Of Al-Qaeda No. 2