Al Qaeda's Anwar al-Awlaki killed in Yemen

This Oct. 2008 file photo provided by Muhammad ud-Deen, shows radical American-Yemeni Islamic cleric Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. / CBS

Updated at 1:22 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON - In a devastating double-blow to al Qaeda's most dangerous franchise, U.S. counterterrorism forces killed two American citizens who played key roles in inspiring attacks against the U.S., U.S. and Yemeni officials said Friday.

U.S-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki and Samir Khan, who edited the slick Jihadi Internet magazine, were killed in an air strike on their convoy in Yemen by a joint CIA-U.S. military operation, according to counterterrorism officials. Al-Awlaki was targeted in the killing, but Khan apparently was not targeted directly.

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In remarks at Fort Myer, Va., President Obama called the death of the jihadist cleric a "major blow" to al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and praised the United States' successful alliance with Yemen's security forces.

"This is further proof that al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world," Mr. Obama said. "Working with Yemen and our other allies and partners, we will be determined, we will be deliberate, we will be relentless, we will be resolute in our commitment to destroy terrorist networks that aim to kill Americans, and to build a world in which people everywhere can live in greater peace, prosperity and security."

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Seeking to justify the targeted killing of a U.S. citizen, Mr. Obama outlined al-Awlaki's involvement in planning and directing attempts to murder Americans.

"He directed the failed attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day in 2009. He directed the failed attempt to blow up U.S. cargo planes in 2010," Mr. Obama said. "And he repeatedly called on individuals in the United States and around the globe to kill innocent men, women and children to advance a murderous agenda."

Yemeni intelligence pinpointed al-Awlaki's hideout in the town of Al Khasaf, a Yemeni official said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss matters of intelligence. "He was closely monitored ever since," by Yemeni intelligence on the ground, backed by U.S. satellite and drones from the sky, the official said.

His death will deal al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula a serious blow, says CBS News terrorism analyst Juan Zarate, particularly his work to draw young Muslims into the jihadi mindset.

"His role as a propagandist actually will be very difficult to fill," says Zarate.

After three weeks of tracking the targets, U.S. armed drones and fighter jets shadowed the al Qaeda convoy before armed drones launched their lethal strike early Friday. The strike killed four operatives in all, officials said. All U.S. officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss matters of intelligence.

Al-Awlaki played a "significant operational role" in plotting and inspiring attacks on the United States, U.S. officials said Friday, as they disclosed detailed intelligence to justify the killing of a U.S. citizen. Khan, who was from North Carolina, wasn't considered operational but had published seven issues of Inspire Magazine, offering advice on how to make bombs and the use of weapons. The magazine was widely read.

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Following the strike, a U.S. official outlined new details of al-Awlaki's involvement in anti-U.S. operations, including the attempted 2009 Christmas Day bombing of a U.S.-bound aircraft. The official said that al-Awlaki specifically directed the men accused of trying to bomb the Detroit-bound plane to detonate an explosive device over U.S. airspace to maximize casualties.

The official also said al-Awlaki had a direct role in supervising and directing a failed attempt to bring down two U.S. cargo aircraft by detonating explosives concealed inside two packages mailed to the U.S. The U.S. also believes Awlaki had sought to use poisons, including cyanide and ricin, to attack Westerners.

The U.S. and counterterrorism officials all spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence matters.

Al-Awlaki was killed by the same U.S. military unit that got Osama bin Laden. Al-Awlaki is the most prominent al Qaeda figure to be killed since bin Laden's death in May.

U.S. word of al-Awlaki's death came after the government of Yemen reported that he had been killed Friday about five miles from the town of Khashef, some 87 miles from the capital Sanaa.

The air strike was carried out more openly than the covert operation that sent Navy SEALs into bin Laden's Pakistani compound, U.S. officials said.

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Counterterrorism cooperation between the United States and Yemen has improved in recent weeks, allowing better intelligence-gathering on al-Awlaki's movements, U.S. officials said. The ability to better track him was a key factor in the success of the strike, U.S. officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.

Al-Awlaki's death is the latest in a run of high-profile kills for Washington under Mr. Obama. But the killing raises questions that the death of other al Qaeda leaders, including bin Laden, did not.

Al-Awlaki is a U.S. citizen, born in New Mexico to Yemeni parents, who had not been charged with any crime. Civil liberties groups have questioned the government's authority to kill an American without trial.

Jameel Jaffer, deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union, condemned the drone attack on Awlaki, saying, "The targeted killing program violates both U.S. and international law.

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[satulianus]

This JSOC is a MURDEROUS< CRIMINAL ORGANIZATION.
Who killed Awlaki?[or planned to kill].
**** YOU MURDERER,BUNCH OF CRIMINALS PARASITES WHO LIVES ON THE TAXPAYER BACK

[James8311]

This issue is less about how deserving Awlaki was of death, and more about how our government operates in an increasingly secretive and disturbingly belligerent way. Certainly Awlaki should have been dealt with, that goes without saying. How he was dealt with is what we should all focus on, considering the fact that our CIA continues to exercise its power without respect for borders, innocent lives, and using people as means to an end. We have the means to apprehend people like Awlaki without using drone strikes. I know its difficult to think along ethical lines when dealing with unsavory characters such as Awlaki, but if we wish for a more peaceful world this is what we must do. As long as we use people as means to an end, and kill without considering consequences there will be wars and a continued cycle of violence.

[TrueAmericanABC]

IF YOU ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE US CONSTITUTION THE PENALTY FOR TREASON IS DEATH
TREASON: The crime of BETRAYING one's country, by attempting to kill or sovereign or overthrow the Government.
The act of betraying someone or something
It seems for some no matter what this President does, is not good enough. If you think hard he has done more for this country then any president in decades. WAKE UP AMERICA! Brush off the hate and anger, and realize the truth.

[JulianAlien]

First evidence must be presented in court.That is also in the Constitution.That is what everyone is arguing about.The guy also had ties with the C.I.A.Think about that for a second.Evidence destroyed.

[Zann-Zel]

Think about the number of people he killed first.
Think about the number of families left without loved ones for a moment.
Think about the children left without parents for a moment.
For once think about the Victims rather than the Criminal!

[robokop216]

Bush/Cheney were called War Criminals for their Congressional approved War and over Gitmo and so called abusive treatment of prisoners. I do not recall Bush/Cheney taking a prisoner out of a cell and killing them without a trial, yet they were called War Criminals and some wanted them triad as such.

Now we have Obama who assassinates Americans whop are not even charged with a crime much less convicted of any crime, yet the same people who called for Bush/Cheney to be tried as War Criminals are silent over Obama's Criminal action of Assassinating people and American citizens.
Obama is a War Criminal, and should be tried in the international court of law as such

[oustetsuo]

It's apparent you have not a single clue as to what the Bush/Cheney administration did, including the "so called abusive treatment of prisoners".
I'd suggest that the next time you consider running your mouth about topics you CLEARLY know nothing about, you should first look up the information, like some of the atrocities that administration committed that were called out as War Crimes, so you don't look so impossibly stupid. Just food for thought.

[lucifersshadow]

Ten years from now, with our economy in the toilet, we have an Egyptian-style revolution. The president decides that the leaders of this revolution are a threat against the government. He orders them all assassinated. No measures have been taken to check his power, so it is done. Do you see where this is leading? Do you really trust one person to make this kind of decision without any type of oversight? Do you trust the government THAT MUCH? I don't.

[irishman55j]

Personally. I am glad that they killed Anwar al Awlaki. If he was a so called US citizen he wouldn't have pulled this crap. I for one think we did the country a favor. Why is it they can kill us and we can't kill them. An Eye for an Eye. What the hell kind of cleric is he to take another human life? As for Jameel Jaffer, SCREW THE INTERNATIONAL LAW. They don't seem to abide by it, so why should we.

[irishman55j]

Personally. I am glad that they killed Anwar al Awlaki. If he was a so called US citizen he wouldn't have pulled this crap. I for one think we did the country a favor. Why is it they can kill us and we can't kill them. An Eye for an Eye. What the hell kind of cleric is he to take another human life? As for Jameel Jaffer, SCREW THE INTERNATIONAL LAW. They don't seem to abide by it, so why should we.

[jesse2159]

Ron Paul has problem with killing this murderous AMERICAN CITIZEN thug terrorists on legal grounds. I don't care if the terrorists is a member of the Pope's Vatican enclave or the guy behind the counter at McDonalds. Terrorists don't have rights anymore Mr Paul. But thanks for running for president. Ya just not ready for the big league.

As for the dead scumbag,...rot in hell.

[powerjoc]

Great job, Obama. The only thing I would have done different is revoked his citizenship first for being a traitor, then bombs away.

This should appease the ACLU.

[TheRealSporer]

The ACLU's legal argument is so lacking in factual or legal merit as to truly indict either the judgment or motives of those making it.

Awlaki openly and notriously published his own statements of joinder with Al Qaeda and the larger jihad against the United States. Awlaki's statements acknowledged his participation in levying acts of war, and war of a most unlawful and brutal kind no less, against the United States.

Such levying of war is an implicit renunciation of American citizenship. There is no difference between Awlaki and an American citizen that joined the Wehrmacht in WW2.