Saif al-Adel
Washington: The United States today (IST) said it is “prepared to act decisively” against new al-Qaida boss Saif al-Adel in Iran. “We have a commitment that we are prepared to act and to act decisively, if our people if our interests come under threat from terrorist groups. We’ve demonstrated that before in any number of cases, but I’m just not in a position to preview or to speak to the specifics of that,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said here, responding to a question whether the US was prepared to go after al Adel on Iranian soil.
The United Nations had yesterday reported that al-Qaida has a new leader, Saif al-Adel, a former Egyptian special forces officer, and he might be in Iran at the moment.
In the past, he had been in Iran and was released once from an Iranian prison. The US said its assessment on al-Adel aligns with that of the UN that he is based in Iran. “When it comes to his presence there, offering safe haven to al-Qaida is just another example of Iran’s wide-ranging support for terrorism, its destabilizing activities in the Middle East and beyond,” Price told reporters.
The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) also put a $10 million bounty on al-Adel.
It may be mentioned that the US has a history of going after every al-Qaida leader. When asked specifically if al-Adel is in Iran, and what is next for the United States, Price reminded that Washington had taken action against Iran for its support to terrorist groups, to other malign actors throughout the region. “But this would just be another indication of Iran’s provision of support to international terrorist groups, its wide-ranging actions that only serve to destabilize the region,” he said.
Price further elaborated that the US was working with its allies and partners and “by engaging in concerted diplomacy, by coordinating closely with our closest allies and partners, we are more effectively able to take on all of the challenges that Iran poses to our interests, to the stability of the region, and to the interests of countries well beyond. We’re going to continue to focus on the full range of challenges, including its support to terrorist groups”.
It may be mentioned that the UN also reported that another key member of the al-Qaida network, Abu Muhammad al-Masri, was probably in Afghanistan and was active again. When reminded that even an interior minister for the Taliban in Afghanistan who has a 10 million bounty on his head right now as announced by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, Price said Washington’s message was “twofold” when it comes to al-Qaida members, including those who are in Afghanistan. “One, to the Taliban, the Taliban has a commitment. It has made private commitments, it has made public commitments to uphold that it not allow Afghanistan’s territory to be used as a safe haven for those who would plot against the United States. Our second point is that we are prepared, willing, and able to take action ourselves if the Taliban is unable or unwilling to fulfill the commitments that it has made,” he said.
The US reminded how late last year it took out the then-leader of al-Qaida, Ayman al-Zawahiri, who was being provided safe haven in Kabul. “The [US] President has said we are not going to allow threats to emerge that pose a challenge to the United States, to our partners, to our allies. We’re going to act decisively to disrupt such threats,” Price asserted.
– global bihari bureau
