Security
Pakistan: Al-Qaeda video vows to avenge Mehsud's death
Islamabad, 1 Oct. (AKI) - Al-Qaeda has released a new video vowing to avenge the death of Pakistani Taliban leader, Baitullah Mehsud, who is believed to have died in an airstrike in northwest Pakistan on 6 August. The eight-minute video features Al-Qaeda's leader in Afghanistan, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, and bears the logo of the terror network's media arm As-Sahab. It was posted to jihadist websites on Thursday.
"Brothers, we inform you that we will avenge the death of Mehsud," Egyptian-born al-Yazid states in the video.
He appears beside a photo of Mehsud. Cicadas can be heard chirruping in the background, suggesting the video was recorded outdoors.
"I say to the Islamic nation that even if we have lost Baitullah Mehsud there are thousands of tribesmen who are like him and who will take revenge on the Americans and their allies," al-Yazid added.
He claimed Mehsud was a pious Muslim whom Allah had "called upon" to wage holy war or Jihad. He and his followers had Allah's blessing in their struggle "despite the Pakistani military and US Predator drone bombardments," al-Yazid said.
"Baitullah managed to ensure the unity of the various tribes and was working for Pakistan's unity," said al-Yazid.
Al-Yazid was among several key Al-Qaeda leaders who appeared in a video that surfaced last week threatening "hypocritical" US president Barack Obama.
That video featured Al-Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, who renewed Al-Qaeda's earlier calls for Muslims to join a 'holy war' or Jihad, urging them not to wait for their 'traitor' governments or spiritual leaders to take action.
Earlier in September, As-Sahab released an audio statement purportedly by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in which he said Obama was "powerless" to halt the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and must rethink his policy on Israel.
"Brothers, we inform you that we will avenge the death of Mehsud," Egyptian-born al-Yazid states in the video.
He appears beside a photo of Mehsud. Cicadas can be heard chirruping in the background, suggesting the video was recorded outdoors.
"I say to the Islamic nation that even if we have lost Baitullah Mehsud there are thousands of tribesmen who are like him and who will take revenge on the Americans and their allies," al-Yazid added.
He claimed Mehsud was a pious Muslim whom Allah had "called upon" to wage holy war or Jihad. He and his followers had Allah's blessing in their struggle "despite the Pakistani military and US Predator drone bombardments," al-Yazid said.
"Baitullah managed to ensure the unity of the various tribes and was working for Pakistan's unity," said al-Yazid.
Al-Yazid was among several key Al-Qaeda leaders who appeared in a video that surfaced last week threatening "hypocritical" US president Barack Obama.
That video featured Al-Qaeda's second-in-command Ayman al-Zawahiri, who renewed Al-Qaeda's earlier calls for Muslims to join a 'holy war' or Jihad, urging them not to wait for their 'traitor' governments or spiritual leaders to take action.
Earlier in September, As-Sahab released an audio statement purportedly by Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in which he said Obama was "powerless" to halt the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and must rethink his policy on Israel.
Bookmark whit:
