Both photos show Qasim al-Rimi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Yemen.
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Great success for US President Donald Trump (73)! The White House announced Thursday evening (local time) that Qasim al-Rimi († 46), one of the most wanted terrorist leaders in the world, had been killed. Al-Rimi was the leader of the al-Qaeda branch in Yemen. The U.S. State Department had put a $ 10 million bounty on Rimi’s head.
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“The United States carried out an anti-terrorist operation in Yemen that Qasim al-Rimi successfully eliminated,” the White House statement said. “The United States, our interests, and our allies have become safer through his death.” And further: “We will continue to protect the American people by tracking down and eliminating terrorists who want to harm us.”
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He wanted to blow up the US plane
Kassim Al-Rimi has headed the Al Qaeda terror group on the Arabian Peninsula (Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula / AQAP) since June 2015. His predecessor was also killed in a US drone attack in Yemen.
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Al-Rimi has been linked to a series of terrorist attacks over the years. Among other things, with the attack on the US embassy in Yemen in 2008. It was also linked to the terrorist attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab (33) in 2009where a US plane was to be blown up. According to the White House, he is said to have worked for Osama bin Laden († 54) in Afghanistan.
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The operation was carried out in January, the White House said. Al-Rimi had been killed in a US drone attack. Donald Trump gave the crucial command.
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In the same month, the United States had the top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani († 62) killed. And in October of last year, the elimination of IS chief Abu Bakr al Baghdadi († 48) caused a sensation worldwide.
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New recordings released
–This is what the US attack on Al-Baghdadi looked like—–
