Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada

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. By February 2002, the "communications hub" which al-Hada running was no longer active following the death of his son, Samir.

Early life and Al-Qaeda 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, but was set free, possibly after a tribal deal. As of 2007, his whereabouts are unknown.

Family 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. to avoid questioning by security forces about the Cole bombing. 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 Al-Hada allegedly provided the telephone number in Yemen that served as the switchboard for al-Qaeda operations leading up to the USS Cole bombing and September 11 attacks. In The Looming Tower he was cited as being in Yemeni custody.