World

Killed by Same Unit That Got Bin Laden: Details About the Operation that Killed Anwar al-Awlaki

Details About Operation to Kill Anwar al AwlakiWASHINGTON (The Blaze/AP) — The same U.S. military unit that got Osama bin Laden used a drone and jet strike in Yemen on Friday to kill an American-born cleric suspected of inspiring or helping plan numerous attacks on the United States, including the Christmas 2009 attempt to blow up a jetliner, U.S. and Yemeni officials said.

Anwar al-Awlaki was killed in a strike on his convoy directed by the CIA and carried out with the U.S. Joint Special Operations Command’s firepower, according to a counterterrorism official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence.

Al-Awlaki had been under observation for three weeks while they waited for the right opportunity to strike, one of the U.S. officials said.

Another source told Fox News the operation was carried out by two Predator drones that launched Hellfire missiles:

The cleric known for fiery anti-American rhetoric spread on the Internet was suspected of inspiring the mass shooting at Fort Hood Army base in Texas in 2009 and of taking a more direct role in planning the attempted Christmas bombing of a Detroit-bound jetliner and other terror attempts against Americans.

He is the most prominent al-Qaida 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 Pakastani compound, U.S. officials said.

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. Officials spoke 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 President Barack Obama. But the killing raises questions that the death of other al-Qaida 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.

U.S. officials have said they believe al-Awlaki inspired the actions of Army psychiatrist Maj. Nidal Hasan, who is charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder in the attack at Fort Hood, Texas.

In New York, the Pakistani-American man who pleaded guilty to the May 2010 Times Square car bombing attempt said he was “inspired” by al-Awlaki after making contact over the Internet.

Al-Awlaki also is believed to have had a hand in mail bombs addressed to Chicago-area synagogues, packages intercepted in Dubai and Europe in October 2010.

Al-Awlaki’s death “will especially impact the group’s ability to recruit, inspire and raise funds as al-Awlaki’s influence and ability to connect to a broad demographic of potential supporters was unprecedented,” said terrorist analyst Ben Venzke of the private intelligence monitoring firm, the IntelCenter.

But Venzke said the terror group al-Qaida in the Arab Peninsula will remain the most dangerous regional arm “both in its region and for the direct threat it poses to the U.S. following three recent failed attacks,” with its leader Nasir al-Wahayshi still at large.

Al-Awlaki wrote an article in the latest issue of the terror group’s magazine justifying attacking civilians in the West. It’s titled “Targeting the Populations of Countries that Are at War with the Muslims.”

Al-Awlaki served as imam at the Dar al-Hijrah mosque in Falls Church, Va., a Washington suburb, for about a year in 2001.

The mosque’s outreach director, Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, has said that mosque members never saw al-Awlaki espousing radical ideology while he was there and that he believes Awlaki’s views changed after he left the U.S.

Comments (119)

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  • tvonmac
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:41am

    Man, we keep this up and Allah is going to run out of virgins!

    Report Post »  
    • kraphtsman
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:44am

      Ha ! Good one !!!

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 12:58pm

      And here I thought this man was going to be greeted by Usama Bin Lauden and the dude in the red suit and pitchfork surrounded by 72 smiling goats looking at him…

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 2:14pm

      “We frosted Awlaki’s charms. It was magically delicious.”

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • hidden_lion
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 7:14pm

      I thought seal team six smoked bin Laden? How come they can’t a straight story? Down with the tyrant!

      Report Post » hidden_lion  
  • GENEPAGLIARI
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:41am

    He rejected any right to citizenship. He is/was guilty of treason and because of the internet and other instant communication modes presented an imminent danger at any given moment. Then he got his moment via hell fire missiles. Instant communication. 70 Virginians. bye-bye, so long, farewell, sayonara, adios, aufveidersein, bon soir ,,,,,

    Report Post »  
    • HKS
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 11:35am

      An now those patriots at ACLU are complaining about his rights, say the government has never do this before and it’s wrong. Well I think they be wrong, Bonnie & Clyde and Dillinger come to mind.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • Hollywood
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:44pm

      The hypocrisy of the Obama administration is trul STAGGERING. Killed American born terrorists without TRIAL, presumption of innocence etc.etc. YET Holder is still attempting to try others,at Gitmo in U.S. courts,who are NO U.s. citizens. The Whithouse and Justice dept SPIN on this, should be something to behold!

      Report Post » Hollywood  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:39pm

      Guilty of treason? What court convicted him? He was an American citizen killed without AUTHORITY. It’s a violation of the CONSTITUTION (no matter how much he is despised.)

      Report Post »  
  • Malcom0983
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:30am

    Ah… another victory for Obama. I don‘t know what we’d do without him to save us from these CIA… I mean, terrorists. At this rate, they are going to run out of high profile terrorists to save his reelect… I mean, kill.

    Report Post »  
    • kraphtsman
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:53am

      Cudos to the U.S. intelligence agencies and our Military forces ! They’re getting better and better at this. It’s about time the money spent during the Bush years developing this capability pays off ! And I look at Obama more like the spoiled-brat high-school kid who inherits a late-model Corvette shortly after getting his driver’s license…. he eventually gets the hang of how it almost drives itself !!

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:25pm

      And let’s not forget that it was the Bush administration, specifically Donald Rumsfeld, who put the system in play that allows us to nail these terrorists.

      Report Post »  
    • Europeandesigner
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:57pm

      Glad you got it.. too bad comment below you has no earthly idea.. :(

      Report Post » Europeandesigner  
    • bestartist
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 3:46pm

      That’s good, I guess
      I‘m a lot more freaked out by Van Jones and Obama’s czars and cabal of Soros puppets.
      The economy is still what it is…not good and I’m not sure the US should go killing US citizens.
      Bring him back in chains and try him…where is Code Pink, all the Lefty Progressives etc.
      I feel like my chain is being yanked.

      Report Post » bestartist  
    • drought1800
      Posted on October 1, 2011 at 10:10am

      not about elections, its about a terrorist that tries to mail package bombs to synagogues in Chicago getting put to rest. Further, God said:I will bless those who Bless you and curse those who curse you! The war on terror goes on. It is what it is!

      Report Post »  
  • sndrman
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:25am

    the progressives are really gonna be pissed at barrack HUSSAIN obama (o’bama). our milatary got the American hating American destroying first(progressives feel bad they are unable to destroy America 1st) just saying.

    Report Post »  
    • bernbart
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 7:15pm

      This progressive supports the drones and killing of this nut. He could have stopped and come back and faced the music. He chose to be a martyr. I say zap these guys!

      Report Post »  
  • The_Almighty_Creestof
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:22am

    Now if we can only keep Obama from leaking to our enemies where these soldiers will be on any given day…they’ll live long happy lives knowing they did mankind (not goatkind) a great service!

    Report Post »  
    • babylonvi
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:55am

      IF this dirt bag was REALLY killed(and not just transferred by the CIA to another job) whoever accomplished this should keep an eye over their shoulder in case someone in the establishment feels the need to cover their tracks. Remember Seal Team 6.

      Report Post » babylonvi  
  • V-MAN MACE
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:22am

    He was killed by the same “unit”?

    Would that be..Seal Team 6?

    Because the CIA sure tried to kill all of those guys on one chopper…

    Will this “Same unit that Killed Bin Ladin” die in an over-packed chopper full of the most elite soldiers we have too?

    Conveniently?

    BOO! The big bad muslim boogeyman is now the big bad Tea Party Patriot.

    Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
    • JeffScism
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 1:04pm

      They are LYING again. The “same unit” is a major Command, not 10-20 guys who shot Bin Laden, its like calling the USAF the same Unit that bombed Hanoi as the same unit that Bombed Hiroshima and Dresden. This is OBAMA trying to pull glory to his chest, his treasure chest, and his ballot box.

      Report Post »  
    • nappy
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:23pm

      uneducated, illiterate conclusion jumping moron. That’s our troll Mace.

      Had a relative on that chopper. You should have been there.

      Report Post »  
    • yiska8
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:40pm

      Gotta go with @V-Man Mace on this one.
      Obama cashed in another chip. He said he was ok with being a one-term President, but I guess he‘s realizing it’s really BAD to be one-term President. The heat is on and Michelle wants to stay in HER house. I don’t know what the hell to believe anymore. Bin Laden is supposedly killed in Pakistan, buried ar seas, photos will not be released to the AP, we lose the so many elite soldiers some of whom were at the killing of OBL on one helicopter, then this Al -Awlaki traitor of Al-Qaeda and another terrorist are killed by Obama in Yemen. If this guy is really gone , then great, but he should have been tried and sent to GITMO, but we all know it’s a country club by now with Barry running the show. Just don’t know what to think anymore. No matter. I don’t trust the SOB in the WH anyway. Wouldn’t put anything past him or this government. Ron Paul has an excellent point though about it being an assassination.Obama is more like a King ordering this killing and that killing. At least Bush sought out Congress from time to time.

      Report Post » yiska8  
  • The next to last american president
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:14am

    This story is hype! maybe the same aerial survelliance, not the same seal team.

    Report Post »  
    • Countrygirl1362
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:32am

      Was thinking the same thing about the seal team, did not they report them being killed in a helicopter that was shot down?

      Report Post »  
  • BannedByHuffpo
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:06am

    Man, Cindy Sheehan’s gonna be really pissed now!

    Report Post » BannedByHuffpo  
  • common-cents101
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:06am

    Pretty soon they will run out of virgins. Maybe they can substitute donkeys.
    Who is next on the hit list?

    Report Post »  
  • j4diceusmc
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:56am

    How can this be?? Seal team 6 went down in the helicopter.. Or has everyone forgotten allredy?? I know there good but from the grave??

    Report Post »  
  • burr99
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:54am

    “Ding-dong al-Awlaki is dead, Awlaki is dead, Awlaki is dead. Ding –dong al-Awlaki is dead!!!”

    Report Post »  
  • bandi9
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:53am

    so he was an Am citizen. big f-ing deal. i know a lot of American citizens that need to have their butts droned.

    Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:51am

    The same U.S. military unit that got Osama bin Laden???

    Why does OBAMA feel the need to inform anyone which military unit accomplished this?
    And between you and I ……. I want to see a body……

    Report Post » randy  
    • Calamity Jane
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:03am

      “…. the operation was carried out by two Predator drones that launched Hellfire missiles.”

      If you want to see the body, you may have to settle for body parts if Hellfires were involved.

      Report Post »  
  • Harold B
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:47am

    Maybe the fact it was Seal Team 6 Allah will reward Awlaki with a used virgin, with a venerial disease. because Allah is not happy when Seal Team 6 is activated because Allah loses again.
    Allah has a tough row to hoe He has Seal Team 6 and the Lord God of Heaven telling Allah that his next stop will be an etebnal bath in a lake of burning sulpher and Allah can do nothing about either one LOL

    Report Post »  
  • jblovesAmerica
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:45am

    Each time one of these Radicals takes the Lead-take him out-i like it.
    drive them back into the rat holes.
    The Pirates should be getting the same“attention”

    Report Post »  
  • Bob
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:44am

    I have to agree there are elements connected to the current administration and progressive movement that are just as dangerous as Al-Awlaki, bin Laden, and their likes. Where is law enforcement? Where is media scrutiny on these traitors besides here?

    Report Post » Bob  
  • Mia Cav
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:40am

    He was an American citizen – what the heck! Can we be targeted next?

    Report Post »  
    • JLGunner
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:53am

      Only if you decide to kill Americans.

      Report Post » JLGunner  
    • Dispman
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:01am

      MIA CAV

      Article III Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution is pretty specific regarding what it takes for a U.S. citizen to become an enemy of our country.

      Report Post »  
    • Theleftisda
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:02am

      Maybe,he was put to death without a trial.I believe the constitution says every American has a right to a trial, this administration has never let the constitution get in the way before,why would they start now?

      Report Post » Theleftisda  
    • CharlesMartel
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 6:10pm

      If you declare war on the United States, you have given up any claim to citizenship.

      If you declare war, you have no claim to “civil” rights. Civil rights are by definition, not military rights.

      Anyone who advocates civil rights for those waging war against us, should read what the Constitution says about “aid and comfort”.

      Report Post » CharlesMartel  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:38am

    OBAMAMAMAS hit team?????? Doesn’t that frighten you all just a little bit?

    Who is selling out these guys to our AMERICA-hating non-leader?

    If it were this simple to get rid of all of the significant bad guys, they would all have been gone long ago.

    Something is up y’all. People are being sacrificed (if indeed they really are and not just being hidden somewhere) for the leftists agenda.

    WAKE UP, AMERICA!!!! We are being fed more lies here….

    Report Post »  
    • Just South Of Heaven
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:47am

      Maybe we now know what Obama has spent most of the stimulus money on! Very expensive “hits,” and a bump in the polls… INFO, it’s never free.

      Report Post » Just South Of Heaven  
    • Roywalling
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 4:01pm

      If he was on the side of the enemy DURING war,he is our enemy,thus being treated like the enemy.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:36am

    .
    Awwww did the Hellfire Missle hurt? We need to throw his U.S. family members in jail too……

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • OEF Soldier
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:29am

    Way to go!
    http://oefsoldier.blogspot.com/

    Report Post »  
  • Just South Of Heaven
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:29am

    So Obama got another bad guy, so says the media? Obama at the helm of Seal team 6! I guess another huge bump in his polls! When did the media stop counting dead American soldiers again? Oh, that’s right, right after the man child entered the White House…

    Just over 400 days till Barry the wookie start packing.

    Report Post » Just South Of Heaven  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:22am

    “Imam Johari Abdul-Malik, has said that mosque members never saw al-Awlaki espousing radical ideology while he was there”
    They must be poor listeners, like say… Obama in Rev. Wright’s church.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Ex-Democrat
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:28am

      Or…..he doesn’t consider it “radical ideology”. Birds of a feather.

      Report Post »  
  • Ponyexpress
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:16am

    Bye Bye American Pie!

    Report Post » Ponyexpress  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:36am

      And them good old muslims had dreams of virgins in the sky. Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die.
      “this’ll be the day that I die.”

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Servant Of YHVH
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:15am

    “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.”
    Did he not renounce his citizenship? If he didn’t then he was a muslim terrorist phony. I can’t see him not renouncing it especially since if he called for the muslims to kill ALL American citizens then they should have killed him too. I would be willing to bet that this garbage was started by someone (probably in our government) that is against us killing his muslim buddies.

    Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • dnewton
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 11:41am

      If you can not kill an American without a trial, we should disarm all police and give them Nerf bats. He was probably cashed in by his Muslim buddies as an in-kind election donation.

      Report Post »  
  • HairRazor
    Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:13am

    Van Jones in Yemen.. he’d be a target too.. an AntiAmerican squalor magnet.. the enemy.

    Report Post » HairRazor  
    • netmail
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 9:21am

      Right on…and I hope the military did this on their own with no imput from the white house. I don’t want them to get any credit for anything outside of trying to destroy America from within.

      Report Post »  
    • V-MAN MACE
      Posted on September 30, 2011 at 10:57am

      And guess what?

      No matter how terrible the man is, it would still be ILLEGAL.

      “First they came for Van Jones, and I let them, because I didn’t agree with his ideology.”

      “Then they came for the Tea Party, and my cognitive dissonance got a hellfire missile sent down my chimney.”

      Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
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