U.S. offers $5 million reward for member of Al Qaeda’s top leadership council

The U.S. State Department’s Rewards for Justice program has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to the capture of Hamza Salih bin Sa’id al-Ghamdi, a veteran member of Al Qaeda who now serves on the terror group’s shura, executive leadership council.

Rewards for Justice described Ghamdi, a Saudi citizen, as a “key senior leader.” Al Qaeda’s shura consists of the group’s top leaders and is responsible for leading the organization, setting strategies and policies, and coordinating with Al Qaeda’s regional branches.

A legacy Al Qaeda leader

Ghamdi’s history with Al Qaeda began before the official formation of the terror group. He “fought invading Soviet troops alongside [Osama] bin Laden in Afghanistan in the 1980s,” and “participated in terrorist attacks in Tajikistan in the early 1990s and also operated an [Al Qaeda] guesthouse in Kabul, Afghanistan,” according to Rewards for Justice.

Just weeks prior to Al Qaeda’s attacks on the U.S. on September 11, 2001, Ghamdi “was one of Osama bin Laden’s most trusted associates and head of bin Laden’s security detail.” Only the most dependable and loyal Al Qaeda members were assigned to protect bin Laden. Members of bin Laden’s bodyguard have not surprisingly since risen to the top of Al Qaeda’ leadership.

Rewards for Justice noted that Ghamdi “fought in the last battle of Tora Bora” in Afghanistan in Dec. 2001. The U.S. military, along with several Afghan militias, attempted to capture or kill bin Laden and hundreds of Al Qaeda leaders and members during the battle of Tora Bora, but they slipped through the mountains and escaped into Pakistan.

Source » longwarjournal.org