Al-Naqaa, Yemen
A U.S. Hellfire missile fired from a CIA spy drone blew up a car carrying a top al Qaida leader and five aides through the desert in Yemen, killing all six, U.S. officials said this week. It was the first time since Sept. 11 that the U.S. has struck Osama bin Laden’s al Qaida network outside Afghanistan. The missile was launched from an unmanned Predator drone, which can slowly circle the desert for hours. The most important victim, Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, known as Abu Ali, was al Qaida’s senior operative in Yemen; U.S. officials believe he may have helped plan the 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. The missile blast scattered pieces of the car over the desert. Witnesses said there were two explosions, indicating that the car might have been carrying explosives. Abu Ali’s identity was confirmed by a piece of his leg.
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