Abu Yahya

Abu Yahya al-Libi (, ; January 1, 1963, – June 4, 2012), born Mohamed Hassan Qaid, was a terrorist and leading high-ranking official within al-Qaeda, and an alleged member of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group.

He is believed to have been able to speak Urdu, Pashto and Arabic and Hassan Qaed al-Far.

Al-Libi was a citizen of Libya, who was held in extrajudicial detention in the Bagram interim detention facility. At that time, American counter-terrorism analysts asserted that al-Libi was a member of al Qaeda. Al-Libi was one of several high-profile Bagram captives who escaped on the night of July 10, 2005.

He was the target of a US drone strike on June 4, 2012, in Mir Ali. His death was later confirmed by the al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a video released in September 2012 to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary.

Background The nisba patronymic of "al-Libi" suffixed to his name indicates that the bearer or his ancestors were from Libya. Al-Libi was born 1963, His elder brother, Abd al-Wahhab Muhammad Qaid (Abu Idris al-Libi) is one of the most senior members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group and currently the head of the National Border Guard for southern Libya.

Al-Libi went to Afghanistan in the early 1990s Later reports removed the Libyan from the list of escapes and inserted al-Faruq.

On November 4, 2005, al-Libi appeared in a Ramadan video on the Arabic television station al-Arabiya, and mentioned that he had escaped from Bagram. In addition, the name off the Airbase posters was added as an "alias".

Bryant Neal Vinas, an American, took part in 2008 with other masked fighters in an al-Qaeda propaganda video featuring al Libi. Vinas was captured in November 2008, and pleaded guilty in January to conspiracy to murder and to receiving military training from Al Qaeda murder and providing them with material support.

Al-Libi also appeared in a July 2009 video from al-Sahab entitled, "Swat: Victory or Martyrdom," about the Pakistani military's campaign against Pashtun militias and jihadi groups in the Swat Valley. On March 12, 2011, al-Libi urged his countrymen to overthrow Muammar Gaddafi's regime and establish Islamic rule, expanding the terror network's attempts to capitalize on the wave of unrest sweeping the region. That was put on in a video posted on a militant website.

TIP's "Islamic Turkistan" magazine in its 5th edition published an article by Al Qaeda member Abu Yayha al Libi who wrote in support of "Turkistan".

Al-Qaeda member Abu Yahya al-Libi spoke in support of "Jihad" in "East Turkestan" against China.

Video releases Dec 16, 2005 – Names and Information of Twelve Detainees in Bagram Prison in Afghanistan from Sheikh Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Names and Information of Twelve Detainees in Bagram Prison in Afghanistan from Sheikh Abu Yehia al-Libi Dec 21, 2005 – Eid al-Fitr Sermon 2005 Eid al-Fitr Sermon by Abu Yehia al-Libi and Scene of Mujahideen Training Exercises SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Eid al-Fitr Sermon by Abu Yehia al-Libi and Scene of Mujahideen Training Exercises Dec 21, 2005 – A Letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqaw from Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - A Letter to Abu Musab al-Zarqaw from Abu Yehia al-Libi Dec 27, 2005 – Jihad or Resistance – An Examination of the Exchanging Terms from Islamic Law for Secular, Western Terms by Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Jihad or Resistance – An Examination of the Exchanging Terms from Islamic Law for Secular, Western Terms by Abu Yehia al-Libi Mar 7, 2006 – A Discussion Concerning the Facts and Claims of Extremism Within Islam by Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - A Discussion Concerning the Facts and Claims of Extremism Within Islam by Abu Yehia al-Libi Apr 17, 2006 – Hamas and the Impending Exposure by Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Hamas and the Impending Exposure by Abu Yehia al-Libi May 9, 2006 – SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - An Interview by Tora Bora Magazine with Abu Yehia al-Libi Abu Yahya al-Libi on May 11, 2006 SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - And Those Who Annoy Allah’s Messenger Will Have a Painful Torment – A Speech from Abu Yehia al-Libi from as-Sahab Productions Abu Yahya al-Libi on Jun 17, 2006 (English Subtitles) June 2005 – As-Sahab Interview with Abu Yahya al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - An Interview with Abu Yehia al-Libi, an Escapee from Bagram Prison in Afghanistan, Conducted and Issues by as-Sahab Productions Light & Fire in Eulogizing the Martyr Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (English Subtitles) Jul 26, 2006 – Labik Video Production: “They Are Coming,” of Mujahideen Training Exercises in Afghanistan and Speeches from Abu Yehia al-Libi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Labik Video Production: “They Are Coming,” of Mujahideen Training Exercises in Afghanistan and Speeches from Abu Yehia al-Libi Jul 31, 2006 – As-Sahab Video Eulogy from Abu Yehia al-Libi for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - As-Sahab Video Eulogy from Abu Yehia al-Libi for Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Jihadi Poems Combat, Not Compromise (English Subtitles) transcript Oct 27, 2006 – “The Infidel Karzai Regime and the Necessity of War” SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “The Infidel Karzai Regime and the Necessity of War” by Abu Yehia al-Libi Nov 2, 2006 – Abu Yahya al-Libi Video Eulogy for Faruq al-Iraqi Produced by as-Sahab SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Abu Yahya al-Libi Video Eulogy for Faruq al-Iraqi Produced by as-Sahab Dec 26, 2006 – Our Battle Between Intensity [of the Past] and the Caution of Tomorrow SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “Our Battle Between Intensity [of the Past] and the Caution of Tomorrow” - Written by Abu Yahya al-Libi Feb 1, 2007 – And the Crusade Continues... The AIDs Children in Libya (English Subtitles) SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “The Crusade Continues: The Children of AIDS in Libya” – A Video Speech from Abu Yahya al-Libi, Produced by as-Sahab Feb 12, 2007 – Labik Productions Presents Selected Pictures of a Shari’a Course Led by Abu Yahya al-Libi in a Mujahideen Training Center SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Labik Productions Presents Selected Pictures of a Shari’a Course Led by Abu Yahya al-Libi in a Mujahideen Training Center Feb 8, 2007 – The Adha Holiday Sermon 1427H Mar 22, 2007 – Iraq: Between Indications of Victory and Conspiratorial Intrigues (English Subtitles) SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Abu Yahya al-Libi Video Speech, “Iraq: Between Indications of Victory and Conspiratorial Intrigues” Mar 25, 2007 – To the Army of Difficulty in Somalia (English Subtitles) SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “To the Army of Difficulty in Somalia” – A Video Speech by Abu Yahya al-Libi from as-Sahab Apr 30, 2007 – Palestine, an Alarming Scream and a Warning Cry SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “Palestine is a Cry of Warning” – A Video Speech by Abu Yahya al-Libi from as-Sahab, 4/2007 May 30, 2007 – The Tawheed of Saud... and the True Tawheed (English Subtitles) SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “The Tawheed of Al Saud…and the True Tawheed” – A Speech by Abu Yahya al-Libi Produced by as-Sahab Media Jun 6, 2007 – Eulogy for Mullah Dadullah (Eulogy for Taliban Commander Mullah Dadullah)SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Abu Yahya al-Libi Delivers Eulogy for Taliban Commander Mullah Dadullah in Video Produced by as-Sahab Media Jul 31, 2007 – The Masters of the Martyrs (Of the Masters of Martyrs) SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “Of the Masters of Martyrs” – A Video Speech by Abu Yahya al-Libi Produced by as-Sahab Media Sep 9, 2007 – Dots on the Letters (English Subtitles) [As-Sahab Second Interview with Shaykh abu Yahia Al-Libi] SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “Dots on the Letters” – Second Interview with Abu Yahya al-Libi Conducted by As-Sahab Media – 9/2007 Nov 7, 2007 – The Closing Statement for the Religious Training that was Held at One of the Mujahideen Centers (Final Session of the Shari’a Course Held at a Mujahideen Center). The transcript of this speech is titled 'Balancing Between Jihad and Seeking Knowledge'. Transcript (Apr 19, 2008 – [Eid al-Adha 1428]). video and transcript links, SITE Intel Group on speech Going Forth – Nafeer (Go Forth) Khutbah video more links The Companion Dec 18, 2007 – Trumpet of War – VideoSITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Abu Yahya Al-Libi Calls Muslims to Arms and Jihad in Video from As-Sahab Jan 8, 2007 – The Fire of the Magi in the Arabian Peninsula SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - “The Fire of the Magi in the Arabian Peninsula” by Abu Yahya al-Libi January 20, 2008 Feb 11, 2008 – Selected Notifications Of Jihad – Transcript March 3, 2008 – “Companion of the Path”, Abu Yahya Al-Libi Delivers Eulogy for Abu Laith Al-Libi March 10, 2008 – I am Not a Deceiver, Nor Will I Allow Someone to Deceive Me Site institute on speech May 22, 2008 – Abu Yahya al-Libi Derides Moderation of Islam SITE Intel Group: SITE Publications - Abu Yahya al-Libi Derides Moderation of Islam June 23, 2008 – Somalia – No Peace without Islaam UK News article, video part 1, part 2, video discussion, SITE Intel Group on speech

Previous reports of death It was reported by Pakistani sources on December 11, 2009, that Abu Yahya al-Libi was killed in a U.S. Drone strike in Pakistan; however, later reports identified the man killed as Saleh al-Somali.

Death On June 5, 2012, U.S. officials confirmed that Libi was among 15 militants killed the previous day when a US drone fired four missiles at a compound in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Additionally, The White House later confirmed it. His death was later confirmed by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a video released in September 2012 to coincide with the 9/11 anniversary.