Top African Al-Qaeda Leader Killed In Mali

French forces in Mali have reportedly killed Abdelhamid Abu Zeid, a commander of al Qaeda’s north Africa wing. Abu Zeid was among 40 militants who died in the region of Tigargara in northern Mali four days ago.

Abu Zeid, whose real name was Mohamed Ghadir, an Algerian, was a leading field commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a group known as AQIM, and is regarded as one of its most ruthless operators.

He is believed to have executed British national Edwin Dyer in 2009 (after four months of captivity) and 78-year-old Frenchman, Michel Germaneau, in 2010.

AQIM has earned tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments for Western hostages taken to its strongholds in northern Mali.

In January, Algerian troops faced a bloody stand-off between a break out group of the AQIM led by Abu Zeid’s main rival, Mokhtar Belmokhtar. At least six hostages died.



Read more at Sky News