News Desk |
Hamza bin Laden, the designated heir of slain Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is dead according to US’s media. Three US intelligence officials confirmed his death to the US broadcaster but they remained tight-lipped about the whereabouts of his death, quoted US media.
The US officials refrained from divulging more details surrounding his death, including the crucial information of the time and place of his death. They loosely informed that Hamza bin Laden died in the last two years. Osama bin Laden had nominated Hamza, out of the 23 children he had from five wives, as his successor to Al-Qaeda.
The Saudi government had stripped off Hamza bin Laden from its citizenship in March, stating that the decision was taken upon royal order in November 2018.
US claimed Hamza bin Laden was involved in plotting an attack on the US to avenge the death of his father in a SEAL operation in Pakistan in 2011. Moreover, he was proactively working to assemble all the dispersed fractions of Al-Qaeda. In 2017, the US had added Hamza to its counterterrorism blacklist.
Potential Threat to the US
The US had also announced a bounty of $1mn for giving his information, signifying him as a potential threat to the US. He was dubbed the “crown prince of jihad” who was “emerging as a leader in the al-Qaeda franchise.” US asserted that Hamza had released audio and video messages calling for the attack on the US and other countries.
WANTED. Up to $1 million for information on Hamza bin Laden, an emerging al-Qa'ida leader. Hamza is son of Usama bin Laden and has threatened attacks against the United States and allies. Relocation possible. Submit a tip, get paid. https://t.co/LtBVhsrwTc #RFJ pic.twitter.com/gmx5hkoSzQ
— Rewards for Justice عربي (@Rewards4Justice) February 28, 2019
In 2018, known to be his last public statement, he urged people of the Arabian Peninsula to revolt. He threatened to wage war on Washington, London, Tel Aviv, and Paris.
Reports stated that Hamza bin Laden was killed in a military operation in the last two years and the US government was involved in it. The news of his death extensively flashed on US news outlets including NBC News, the New York Times, and CNN, citing unnamed US intelligence officials, though there has been no confirmation from Al-Qaeda.
President Donald Trump also refused to comment on the report saying, “I don’t want to comment on that,” and so did the White House national security adviser John Bolton.
Read more: Saudi says Hamza bin Laden stripped of his citizenship
Documents seized during the raid at his father’s house in Abbottabad suggested Hamza was groomed as the heir to Al-Qaeda, according to the US State Department. US State Department also claims to have found a video of Hamza’s wedding, who was thought to be 30, with the daughter of a senior Al-Qaeda official, which had taken place in Iran.
He was believed to be under house arrest in Iran, while others believed he lived in Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria. The Saudi government had stripped off Hamza bin Laden from its citizenship in March, stating that the decision was taken upon royal order in November 2018.
Osama bin Laden, the chief of militant organization Al-Qaeda, was indicted for the September 11, 2011 deadly attacks on the US.
Who was Hamza Bin Laden?
Hamza Bin Laden was the son of Osama Bin Laden and Khairiah Sabar, one of the three surviving wives of former Al-Qaeda leader. It is believed that he was born in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Osama bin Laden’s country of origin, where he spent his life and where Hamza’s extended family still resides.
The emergence of a fierce Islamic militant organization, ISIS, overthrew Al-Qaeda from its status as the leading militant organization in the world.
The US Intelligence officials, Hamza, back then only a kid, was present by the side of his father when he masterminded the notorious 9/11 attacks. The reports further claimed that post the 9/11 attacks, Hamza spent many years of his life in Iran with dozens of other family members, guarded by Iranian intelligence and military officials.
He has appeared in the videos of Al-Qaeda since his teenage years and was mentored by Abu al-Khayr al-Misri, who was a deputy to the current Al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri.
There are conflicting reports on his marriage, his family claimed that he had married the daughter of Muhammad Atta, the lead hijacker in the 9/11 terror attacks. Whereas the US asserts that he married the daughter of senior Al-Qaeda leader, Abdullah Ahmed Abdullah or Abu Muhammad al-Masri, who was indicted for his alleged involvement in 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.
Read more: US offers $1 million reward to find bin Laden son
The emergence of a fierce Islamic militant organization, ISIS, overthrew Al-Qaeda from its status as the leading militant organization in the world.
1) Hamza bin Laden, son of Usamah bin Laden and major #alQaeda figurehead, has been killed, according to US officials. No details yet provided about how and when. Al-Qaeda, which would most likely know of such an event, has not yet commented/confirmed. https://t.co/MJyZJvV3GP pic.twitter.com/3XDy2SyhQG
— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) July 31, 2019
Hamza Bin Laden reportedly Dead:
• US has intel he’s dead; no reported DNA confirmation (NBC)
• Apparent heir of father; called for attacks on US, Russia, EU, KSA
• @azelin : Won’t move needle much
• @intelwire :A Martyrdom talking point for AQhttps://t.co/nJb2oYjEKK— Joyce Karam (@Joyce_Karam) July 31, 2019
🚨BREAKING: Hamza bin Laden—al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden’s son and reputed successor—is dead, just 5 months after the US offered $1 million for his capture.
Last year, Hamza married the daughter of Mohammed Atta—the lead 9/11 hijacker.😳https://t.co/frNbvVlZv1
— Dena Grayson, MD, PhD (@DrDenaGrayson) July 31, 2019