Abu Hamza Rabia

Abu Hamza Rabia (—30 November2005) was an Egyptian member of al-Qaeda, described in news accounts as a high-ranking leader within the organization's hierarchy. His death, in a surprise airstrike, was widely reported by media outlets around the world.cite news
url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/03/pakistan.rabia/
title= Al Qaeda No. 3 dead, but how?
publisher=CNN
author=
date=Sunday, December 42005
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=] cite news
url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/03/AR2005120301473_pf.html
title=Blast in Pakistan Kills Al Qaeda Commander: Figure Reportedly Hit by U.S. Missile Strike
pages=A01
publisher="Washington Post"
author=Whitlock, Craig and Khan, Kamran
date=Sunday, December 42005
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=Intelligence officials said Rabia, an Egyptian, had replaced Abu Faraj Libbi, another al Qaeda leader who was captured in Pakistan in May. Libbi had taken over the role held by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in the United States who was also caught in Pakistan, in March 2003.] cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4494428.stm
title=Blast 'kills al-Qaeda commander'
publisher=BBC News
date=Saturday, 3 December2005
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=Egyptian-born Abu Hamza Rabia, described as al-Qaeda's operational commander, was among five militants killed in a blast in North Waziristan.]

According to American intelligence officials, Rabia was al-Qaeda's third in command. Few details have been made available about his background, although CNN reports confirmed his Egyptian origins and indicated that he was in his thirties.His death stirred controversy because he was killed in Pakistan's northwestern region of North Waziristan, and it was Pakistani policy that US forces were not allowed in the country.cite news
url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,177709,00.html
title=Shrapnel Points to Drone in Pakistan Attack
publisher=Fox News
date=Monday, December 52005
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=U.S. officials have refused to give details of the attack on the house where Hamza Rabia reportedly died, but they have told FOX News that it was a joint operation involving U.S. and Pakistani resources.] Initially US and Pakistani authorities denied that the surprise airstrike was launched from a US predator drone.

In a subsequent development, the murder of local journalist Hayatullah Khan, whose body was found months after his disappearance, was tied to his investigation into Rabia's death.cite news
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5096008.stm
title=Mystery of murdered tribal journalist
publisher=BBC News
author=Khan, Aamer Ahmed
date=Monday, 19 June2006
accessdate=2008-02-10
quote=]

References