Afghanistan on Sunday claimed to have killed a top al-Qaida terror leader and propagandist who is on the FBI’s most wanted list.
Husam Abd al-Rauf, who was wanted by the FBI for providing support to terrorist organizations and conspiring to kill U.S. nationals, was reportedly killed in firefight in a Taliban-controlled area, according to the Associated Press. A total of six other suspected Islamic militants were dispatched in the raid and one Afghan authority was killed, the AP reported.
FBI Most Wanted/FBI
Al-Rauf reportedly served as al-Qaida’s chief of media and wrote propaganda in the form of articles and audio messages, according to the news wire.
The National Directorate of Security, an Afghan government body, said the red-haired man was a close associate of Osama Bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the current leader of al-Qaida, the AP noted.
Al-Rauf was reportedly heard on a 2018 audio tape mocking President Donald Trump and calling him “Donald T Rambo,” in an effort to liken him to the popular American fictional character John Rambo, played by Sylvester Stallone, according to the news wire. (RELATED: Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Purchasing Firearms Used In The San Bernardino Terrorist Attack Sentenced To 20 Years)
The terror leader’s death follows a Saturday suicide bomb attack in Kabul that left 24 dead and 57 injured, the AP reported.
Al-Qaida has not immediately recognized al-Rauf’s death, according to the AP.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.