Saudi born Afghan Al Qaeda figure added to the American terror list

A Saudi born senior Al Qaeda leader, currently active in Afghanistan was added by the American authorities to the list of Specially Designated Global terrorists this week.

Azzam Abdullah Zureik Al-Maulid Al-Subhi, known by his nom-de-guerre Mansur al-Harbi, is already among the most wanted terror figures in his native country. Al Harbi is wanted for a number of attacks against both the Saudi and ISAF authorities. According to the US authorities, the insurgent is currently involved in the running of a Taliban training facility inside Afghanistan.

The US officials said that al Harbi is one of the most senior members of the Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. He is active in the country for more than a decade, and is involved in the training of new militants. According to the sources, al Harbi is also involved in co-ordinating the inflow of foreign terrorists in to Afghanistan, to fight the NATO-led ISAF (International Security Assistance Force).

Intelligence sources claimed that al Harbi is maintaining close relations with senior Al Qada operatives such as Abdel Aziz Migrin and Sayf al-Adl. Saif al-Adl is one of the most wanted Al Qaeda figures in the US, known for his role in the 1998 United States embassy bombings in Africa. Born in Egypt, al Adel is residing in Afghanistan ever since 1988.

Both al Harbi and al Adl are believed to be operating out of the Afghan province of Konar, which has become a stronghold of the Islamist militant groups operating in Afghanistan recently. Pro-Al Qaeda groups, like the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba are reported to be operating a number of militant training camps in the remote interior regions of the province.

A number of Saudi nationals have been either killed or captured by the ISAF and the Afghan National Army (ANA) during the past two years. Those killed included senior leaders of the organization, like Sakhr al Taifi, Abu Hafs al Najdi, Sa’ad Mohammad al Shahri, and Abdallah Umar al Qurayshi.