An inevitable result of an enhanced unilateral drone campaign in Pakistan was the assassination of obscure militant figures, who upon first reporting seemed to have little consequence to the overall … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – The Obscure Yet Relevant
American clandestine forces progressed with their unilateral offensive against al-Qaida officials based in Pakistan, unleashing a barrage of drone strikes from summer 2008 through the end of the year. The … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Unilateral Assault
The severity of the now underway drone campaign was not fully comprehended by al-Qaida operatives. All operatives involved with External Operations, militant training, conventional and chemical weaponry, were priority targets. … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – From Darunta To The Grave
Representing a time wherein American drone strikes were still rarities; news-worthy events that heralded some enormous stride in the war against al-Qaida and the efforts to protect quotidian American endeavors, … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Damned, by Hellfire or Malady
Less than a year from the inglorious drone strike on Damadola, Bajaur, the CIA conducted a much more devastating attack, this time on a madrassa in Bajaur, ostensibly utilized by … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – The Chenagai Madrassa
After the debacle of Damadola, it seemed unlikely that the US would engage in another unilateral airstrike operation in the populated regions of the FATA in sovereign Pakistan. Thus far … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Muhsin Musa Matwalli Atwah
After the strike that killed Hamza Rabia proved that the drone campaign could actually track and assassinate major al-Qaida figures successfully, the efforts were focused to remove larger numbers of … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – The Damadola Incident; A Portent of the Future Drone Campaign
As 2005 faded, the CIA drone campaign had yet to eliminate a senior al-Qaida commander, but patience and perseverance paid dividends. American authorities understood that al-Qaida infrastructure was compartmented into … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Hamza Rabia; External Operations
Having discussed the history and circumstances of America’s first drone strike within Pakistani territory, we move to the next phase, in which the CIA began actively hunting major al-Qaida figures … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Abu Haitham Al-Yemeni; First Al-Qaida Militant Eliminated Via Drone Strike In Pakistan
Amid the story of the internal and external exploits of al-Qaida in the early 2000s, we must detour to discuss their rugged tribal haven and their Pashtun hosts. We must … Continue reading SERIES: Predators Of The Khorasan – Nek Mohamed Wazir and The Battle of Wana