Al Qaeda says a commander dead
Al Qaeda confirmed the death of a top commander accused of training the suicide bombers who killed 17 American sailors on the destroyer Cole eight years ago off the coast of Yemen.
An Al Qaeda statement posted on the Internet said Abu Khabab Masri and three other top figures were killed but did not say when, where or how.
Pakistani authorities have said they believe Masri is one of six people killed in an airstrike July 28 on a compound in South Waziristan, a lawless tribal region near the Afghan border.
The U.S. military has not confirmed suspicions that it was behind the missile strike. The U.S. periodically launches similar attacks on militant targets in the tribal border region.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
