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2012-09-S-009
For Immediate Release
 
 
KABUL, Afghanistan (Sept. 6, 2012) — Afghan and coalition forces today confirmed the death of an al-Qaida operative following a precision airstrike in Watahpur district, Kunar province, Friday.
Abu Saif, also known as Haidar Baba, worked with Kunar al-Qaida leaders Yusuf and Mufti Assad, and was killed by Afghan and coalition forces Aug. 31, along with two other insurgents. Abu Saif was also a known associate of al-Qaida leader Hanzallah, who was killed along with several of his fighters in a July 1 operation in Kunar. 
Abu Saif is believed to have served as cross-border facilitator and involved in moving al-Qaida’s media operation into Afghanistan. He also acted as a conduit between senior al-Qaida leaders, passing messages between terrorist leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan. 
During the operation, the security force observed several individuals engaged in terrorist activity. After ensuring no civilians were in the area, the security force conducted a precision airstrike killing the terrorists.
A post-strike assessment determined no civilian property was damaged and no civilians were harmed.