Arab media have claimed that Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian-born leader who led al-Qaeda after Osama bin Laden, has died in Afghanistan. Two senior leaders were killed in Afghanistan in recent days. Some sources said that he did not have access to medical treatment due to which he died due to illness.
Arab News quoted Pakistani and Afghan sources as claiming that Ayman al-Zawahiri, 69, died of natural causes in Afghanistan. He was last seen in a video message on the occasion of the 9/11 anniversary this year.
His death has led to a lack of leadership in al-Qaeda, as two of al-Qaeda's most senior commanders have recently been killed. Among them was Osama bin Laden's eldest son, Hamza bin Laden, who was killed in a US operation last year. In addition, Abu Muhammad al-Masri was considered Ayman al-Zawahiri's deputy, but he has been killed in Iran this year by Israeli agents.
Arab News has spoken to four security sources in Pakistan and Afghanistan about the death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, two of whom have confirmed that the al-Qaeda leader has died. All security sources provided information to Arab News on condition of anonymity.
An al-Qaeda translator told Arab News that Ayman al-Zawahiri died last week of asthma because he did not have access to regular medical treatment.
According to a Pakistani security official stationed in the tribal areas, "We believe that Ayman al-Zawahiri is no longer alive. We can say with certainty that the cause of his death is natural."
A source close to al-Qaeda said on Monday that very few people attended Ayman al-Zawahiri's funeral prayers. "All we know is that he was having trouble breathing and he died somewhere in Afghanistan."
