CIA Airstrikes Kill Al Qaeda Terrorist Adam Gadahn Who Warned Of Attacks In Australia

An Al Qaeda terrorist who previously threatened to launch attacks in Australia has been killed in an airstrike ordered by the CIA. U.S. President Barack Obama has already apologised for the accidental deaths of American hostage and aid worker Warren Weinstein and an Italian hostage, Giovanni Lo Porto, after two CIA drone airstrikes hit Al Qaeda compounds. Two terrorists also died during the bombings.

Adam Gadahn, one of the casualties from the Al Qaeda side, was from California who rose to prominence for spreading the terror group’s propaganda. He was close to the Al Qaeda leader, Osama Bin Laden, and the group’s deputy commander in Pakistan, Ahmed Farouq. Gadahn had threatened to launch a major attack in Australia, particularly Melbourne, reports SMH.

Following the deadly terror attacks in Britain and Europe in 2005, Gadahn released a video threatening bomb attacks in Melbourne. In a taped message, he declared that after the attacks in London and Madrid, Los Angeles and Melbourne would follow. “And this time, don’t count on us demonstrating restraint and compassion,” said Gadahn.

Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, had announced Gadahn’s death along those of the hostages. Reports said the U.S. military was not aware that Weinstein and Lo Porto were being held captive in the Al Qaeda compound. “As president and as commander-in-chief, I take full responsibility for all our counterterrorism operations including the one that inadvertently took the lives of Warren and Giovanni,” said Mr Obama in a statement.

The CIA ordered the strikes on the Al Qaeda compounds near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan on Jan. 14 and Jan. 19 to take out senior leaders of the group but it was unaware of the presence of hostages. Mr Obama said in a televised appearance from the White House briefing room that the hostages were “hidden” in the compound.

U.S. officials told NBC News that the hostages were killed using a controversial tactic that involved launching attacks based on a behavioural pattern of people on the ground, even if targeted individuals were not clearly identified. Mr Obama has expressed his regret and sympathies to the families of the hostages. He said while the operation was “lawful” and in line with U.S. counterterrorism policies, an independent review will be launched to investigate the incident and prevent it from happening in the future.

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