Abu Sayyaf Leader Confirmed Dead

James Joyner · Saturday, January 20, 2007 · No Comments

The leader of the Philippine based terrorist group Abu Sayyaf has been confirmed dead.

DNA test results confirmed that the leader of the al-Qaida-linked group Abu Sayyaf was killed during a clash with Philippine troops in September, officials said Saturday.

Word of Khadaffy Janjalani’s death came just days after U.S.-backed Philippine troops killed his possible successor, senior Abu Sayyaf commander Abu Sulaiman, who was wanted in the beheading of a California tourist and the kidnapping of two American missionaries.

The deaths of Janjalani and Sulaiman mark a major victory in the campaign to wipe out Islamic militants in the south of the archipelago after years of bombings and kidnappings.

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FILED UNDER: James Joyner, Terrorism, al Qaeda, California

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About James Joyner
James Joyner is the publisher of Outside the Beltway and the managing editor of the Atlantic Council. He's a former Army officer, Desert Storm vet, and college professor with a PhD in political science from The University of Alabama. Follow James on Twitter.