The United Nations assumes that the Egyptian Saif al-Adel is the new boss of the extremist network al-Qaeda. “During the November and December talks, many member states believed that Saif al-Adel was already acting as the de facto and undisputed leader of the group,” a UN report said. Adel was a member of the Egyptian special forces and has a $10 million bounty on his head.
His battle name is “Sword of Justice” and he is still part of the old al-Qaeda guard. In January, however, a US Secret Service representative said the successor to al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul last August, was unclear.
Profiled when planning background attacks
Experts believe pressure has increased on Al Qaeda to elect a strategic leader who can plan attacks and lead the network. According to her, Adel acted more covertly than other senior al-Qaeda members. While the former Al Qaeda bosses addressed the public with speeches and threats against the US, the Egyptian made a name for himself in the background planning attacks.
Current residence in Iran?
In 1998, a US court charged him with involvement in the attacks on US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. At that time, 224 civilians died and more than 5,000 people were injured. He is also said to have played a role in the assassination of American journalist Daniel Paerl in Pakistan in 2002. The first indications of a turnaround in extremism date back to 1981. At the time, Adel was suspected of being part of the assassination plot against Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat. The US State Department understands that he currently resides in southeastern Iran and is under the protection of the Revolutionary Guards.
Smart personality and poker face
Former FBI investigator Ali Soufan, who helped track down Al-Qaeda operatives, describes Al-Adel as a smart personality with a poker face. “His temper is notorious. With his sharp tongue, he threatens violence against anyone who displeases him. He is known for instantly punishing infidelity with ruthless violence,” Soufan wrote in a personality profile for the Combating Terrorism Center.
With subordinates, he can be contemptuous and even rude. On the other hand, he is also known for his friendly advice. Specialist at Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, Yoram Schweitzer, said: “He is a very courageous, professional and cold-blooded person.”
Experts believe that Adel has been part of al-Qaeda’s inner circle for decades. They suspect that he should take on the task of strategically leading al-Qaeda cells in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. But there are also doubts whether the nobility can handle these tasks.
“Many insiders believe he has played an important operational role in the past, but he is not suited for a leadership role,” said International Crisis Group expert Jerome Drevon. “His skills are more suited to planning armed operations than managing a large network.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
