Al-Qaeda operative killed in Afghanistan

Afghan and coalition forces on Thursday confirmed the death of an al-Qaida operative following a precision airstrike in Watahpur district, Kunar province, last Friday. NATO-led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement that Abu Saif, also known as Haidar Baba, worked with Kunar al-Qaida leaders Yusuf and Mufti Assad, and was killed by Afghan and coalition forces on August 31, along with two other insurgents. Abu Saif was also a known associate of al-Qaida leader Hanzallah, who was killed along with several of his fighters in a July 1 operation in Kunar. The statement further added, Abu Saif is believed to have served as cross-border facilitator and involved in moving al-Qaida's media operation into Afghanistan. He also acted as a conduit between senior al-Qaida leaders, passing messages between terrorist leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to Afghan online newspaper (Khaama Press).