Osama Bin Laden’s son Hamza killed in ‘US execution airstrike’ five months after $1m reward offered for his capture
OSAMA bin Laden’s son and terrorist heir has reportedly been killed in an airstrike just five months after a $1m reward was offered for his capture.
Hamza bin Laden – dubbed the “Crown Prince of Jihad” – is claimed to have died in the secret hit job by the US government.
The death of Hamza comes after the US State Department announced a bounty for the terror chief in February.
Overnight, NBC reported confirmation from three US officials that the 30-year-old has died, with claims he was killed in an airstrike.
The terror chief was believed to be in hiding in Pakistan, Afghanistan or possibly even Iran – where he was reportedly placed under house arrest.
The unnamed US officials haven’t yet provided details of where Hamza Bin Laden died, or whether the US was involved in his death.
However, New York Times sources said the US government had a role in the operation which killed him and it took place within the first two years of the Trump administration.
Donald Trump and White House National Security Adviser John Bolton both declined to comment.
According to terrorism expert Rita Katz, from the SITE Intelligence Group, Hamza bin Laden was “beloved by the global jihadi community” and was not targeted merely for being Osama bin Laden’s son.
“He was one of al-Qaeda’s loudest voices calling for attacks in the West and giving directives,” she tweeted.
“With al-Qaeda’s help, was positioning himself to lead the global jihadi movement.
“Hamza was beloved by global jihadi community. His speeches stressed unity, never criticising ISIS.
“He was seen as a future leader who would unite the global jihad. Thus, if he is indeed dead, it will be a major blow to the movement.”
AL QAEDA TERROR LEADER
In a State Department briefing, Hamza had been described as an “emerging leader” in Al-Qaeda after he had called for attacks on the West.
It was claimed he had called for revenge specifically for the killing of his father Osama – a mastermind of the 9/11 atrocity.
The briefing added: “Hamza bin Laden is the son of deceased former al-Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden and is emerging as a leader in the al-Qaeda franchise.
“He has released audio and video messages on the Internet, calling on his followers to launch attacks against the United States and its Western allies.”
Hamza bin Laden’s last public statement was through Al Qaeda’s public relations department in 2018.
Last August it was revealed Hamza had married the daughter of Mohammed Atta – the lead hijacker in the 9/11 terror attacks.
Osama bin Laden was once named the world’s most wanted man after plotting the 9/11 attacks against the US in 2001 – which killed close to 3,000 people.
The Al-Qaeda leader was tracked down to the Abbottobad compound nearly ten years later and killed in a hit by US Navy SEALS on 2 May 2011, aged 54. His body was later buried at sea.
Hundreds of Americans were pictured chanting “USA! USA!” outside The White House celebrating bin Laden’s death on the night the news broke.
The State Department briefing added: “On January 5, 2017, the Department of State designated Hamza bin Laden as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224.
“As a result of the designation, all of Hamza bin Laden’s assets based in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are frozen, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with him.”
Hamza bin Laden – a life steeped in terror
Hamza bin Landen was the son of Osama bin Laden and Khairiah Sabar, one of the former al-Qaeda leader’s three surviving wives.
She was holed up with bin Laden when he was killed by US Navy SEALS in Abbottabad in 2011.
Hamza is believed to have been born in Jeddah and from an early age he was groomed to be a leader in the terror group.
He travelled with his father as he moved the base of his terror operation from Afghanistan to Sudan – and back again when the government succumbed to western pressure to kick him out.
According to an written for by former FBI agent Ali Soufan for the Combatting Terrorism Center at the US Army’s West Point military academy, Hamza was the favourite of bin Laden’s five sons.
He underwent terror training from a young age and began appearing in jihadi videos, delivering fiery messages in a squeaky boy’s voice.
His charisma began to show, in particular when he delivered a poem at a family wedding aged 15.
Hamza’s “assured performance transfixed guests” and bin Laden family members, who “would talk about it, and even have dreams about it, for years to come”.
He was at his father’s side in Afghanistan before the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.
Hamza spent time with him in Pakistan after the US-led invasion of Afghanistan pushed much of al-Qaeda’s senior leadership there.
As Pakistan began clamping down on al-Qaeda under pressure from the US, Hamza secretly slipped into Iran but was detained by the country’s intelligence services.
Hamza and his mother were held at a succession of military facilities in the Tehran area, separated from the outside world by high walls, razor wire, and surveillance cameras.
He was traded for an Iranian diplomat captured by al-Qaeda and made his way to Waziristan, a remote tribal area of Pakistan.
According to the Combatting Terrorism Center article, he visited his father at his Abottabad hideout and may have avoided the US raid by a few days.
From his hiding place Hamza bin Laden spewed out jihadi messages urging his followers to wage war on the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
Recently he has been seen as a deputy to al-Qaeda’s leader al-Zawahiri.
According to letters seized from Osama Bin Laden’s compound after his death, he was grooming Hamza to replace him as leader of the network.
