The al-Qaida operative killed in a Predator drone attack in western Pakistan this week may have been one of the group's top operations officers.
Two sources familiar with the case tell NPR that they believe Saleh al-Somali, formerly one of al-Qaida's top propagandists, was hit in the attack by the remotely piloted aircraft. Sources said officials are awaiting DNA proof.
Somali rose through the group's ranks to become an operations planner and is now considered one of al-Qaida's senior leaders.
He is thought to be a key contact for jihadists operating in the U.S. and Europe.
He has ties to a militia group in Somalia called al-Shabab.
If the DNA tests show that Somali was killed, it represents another success for the drones. A top Taliban leader was killed by a drone this summer.
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