Egyptian militant Saif al-Adel reportedly has taken over as an interim operational leader of Al Qaeda until the terror group appoints Usama bin Laden’s permanent successor after the U.S. Navy SEALs’ deadly raid on bin Laden’s Pakistan.
Noman Benotman, an analyst with the Quilliam Foundation think tank and a former associate of bin Laden, told Reuters of the promotion Tuesday. Al-Adel will remain as Al Qaeda’s operational leader while the organization collects pledges to appoint Ayman al-Zawahri, bin Laden’s top deputy, as Al Qaeda’s new leader – a move that is expected.
