Report: Israel eliminated senior Iranian al-Qaeda figure in Iran

(INN) The New York Times reported that three months ago, Israel eliminated al-Qaeda’s No. 2 in Iran, Abdullah Ahmad Abdullah, at the request of the United States.

According to intelligence sources, the senior was shot dead on the streets of Tehran on the anniversary of the 1998 attack on the United States embassies, of which he was one of the perpetrators. Along with Abdullah, his daughter, the widow of Osama bin Laden’s son, was also killed.

Neither Israel, the United States, nor even al Qaeda commented on the assassination. On the other hand, Iran denied the report and the Foreign Ministry in Tehran said that “there are no al Qaeda terrorists in Iran; Washington and Tel Aviv are trying to abdicate responsibility for al Qaeda’s activities and terror organizations.”

The killing of Masri, who was seen as a likely successor to al Qaeda’s current leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, was kept secret until now, the newspaper said.

It was unclear what, if any, role the United States had in the killing of the Egyptian-born militant, the Times said. U.S. authorities had been tracking Masri and other al Qaeda operatives in Iran for years, it said.

Al Qaeda has not announced his death, Iranian officials have covered it up and no government has publicly claimed responsibility, the Times said.

A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, declined to confirm any details of the Times’ story or say whether there was any U.S. involvement. The White House National Security Council did not immediately respond to a request for comment.