Khalid Habib

Who was Khalid Habib?

Khalid Habib was an ascending member of al-Qaeda's central structure in Pakistan and Afghanistan. His nationality has been reported as Egyptian and as Moroccan.

Habib was the operations commander for the region. He is one of several al-Qaeda members who are more battle-hardened by combat experience in Iraq, Chechnya, and elsewhere. This experience has rendered them more capable than their predecessors. According to The New York Times, this cadre is more radical than the previous generation of al-Qaeda leadership. The FBI has described Habib as "one of the five or six most capable, most experienced terrorists in the world.

In 2008, Habib relocated from Wana to Taparghai, Pakistan to avoid missile strikes launched from US-operated MQ-1 Predator aircraft which targeted al Qaeda and Taliban personnel. Khalid Habib was killed by a Predator strike near Taparghai on October 16, 2008. Habib was reportedly sitting in a Toyota station wagon which was struck by the missile. On October 28, militants confirmed to the Asia Times that Habib was killed in the drone attack.