Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada
Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada | |
|---|---|
| Born | Unknown |
| Nationality | Yemeni |
| Occupation | al-Qaeda "switchboard" host |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  Al-Qaeda
|
| Years of service | 1980s–? |
| Rank | Officer of Al-Qaeda and communications supervisor |
| Battles / wars | |
Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada is an al-Qaeda operative from Yemen whose family was described by US government officials as a "supercell" within the al-Qaeda network.[1] By February 2002, the "communications hub" which al-Hada running was no longer active following the death of his son, Samir.[2]
Early life and Al-Qaeda
[edit]Al-Hada is native of Dhamar Governorate, and is a veteran of Soviet–Afghan War, where he met Osama bin Laden. It's reported that al-Hada was a close friend of Bin Laden. From 1996 until 2006, he operated, along with his son, Samir Al-Hada, an al-Qaeda safe house and a communication center in Sana'a, which was the direct link from al-Qaeda central to Yemen. He was captured by the Yemeni government in 2006,[citation needed] but was set free, possibly after a tribal deal.[citation needed] As of 2007, his whereabouts are unknown.[3]
Family
[edit]Al-Hada's son-in-law, Khalid al-Mihdhar, was one of the hijackers that flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon as part of the September 11 attacks.[2] Another son-in-law, Mustafa Abdulkader, has been listed on FBI terror alerts. In February 2002, Al-Hada's son, Samir al-Hada, committed suicide using a hand grenade,[4] to avoid questioning by security forces about the Cole bombing.[5] Two of Ahmed Al-Hada’s brothers were killed in Afghanistan during operation “Absolute Justice” in the War in Afghanistan and a third brother, Abdullah Al-Hada, is wanted by the Yemen authorities for terror charges.
USS Cole bombing
[edit]Al-Hada allegedly provided the telephone number in Yemen[6] that served as the switchboard for al-Qaeda operations leading up to the USS Cole bombing and September 11 attacks.[7] In The Looming Tower he was cited as being in Yemeni custody.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Al-Qaida leaders, associates :Ahmad Mohammad ali al-Hada". NBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Profile: Ahmed al-Hada". History Commons. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ "Slain Yemeni al-Qaida suspect had family ties to terrorism". Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
- ^ "emeni Suspect Was Related to Sept. 11 Hijacker". ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Robert Windrem. "Al-Qaida leaders, associates". NBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ "U.S. links Yemen clan to Sept. 11 and East Africa attacks". bouwman.com. MSNBC. 14 February 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ^ Wright, Lawrence (2006). The Looming Tower. Knopf. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-375-41486-2. Retrieved 6 May 2011.