Atiyah Abd al-Rahman

Who was Atiyah Abd al-Rahman?

Atiyah Abd Al Rahman, born Jamal Ibrahim Ashtiwi al Misrati, was reported by the US State Department to be a senior member of al-Qaeda and a member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and Ansar al-Sunna. His name may be rendered in English as Atiyah Abdur-rahman or Atiyah Abdul-Rahman or in other ways.

He was killed in Pakistan by a CIA predator drone strike on August 22, 2011.

Atiyah Abd Al Rahman is thought to be the "Atiyah" who wrote a commanding letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi in December 2005.

The State Department announcement said that Abd Al Rahman:

⁕Was a Libyan in his early 40s.

⁕Was based in Iran, representing al-Qaeda to other Islamist terrorist groups.

⁕Was appointed to that role by Osama bin Laden.

⁕Met bin Laden while still in his teens.

⁕Fled the Republic of the Congo alongside bin Laden as recently as 2001.

The State Department's Rewards for Justice offered up to US$1 million for information about him. However, the program no longer has him listed as a wanted terrorist.

With the death of Osama bin Laden in May 2011, amidst confusion, including over who would succeed bin Laden and Ayman al Zawahiri, he was eventually designated as Al Qaeda's second in command.