Libya: Al-Qaeda denies reports of top militant's death
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 June 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Libya: Al-Qaeda denies reports of top militant's death, 19 June 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/55b5f3ea6.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 19, 2015
Al-Qaeda's North Africa branch has denied reports that top Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar was recently killed in Libya.
Posting on Twitter late on June 18, Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb said Belmokhtar – also known as Khalid Abu al-Abbas – was "alive and well."
Libya's government announced on June 15 that Belmokhtar – a major figure in insurgencies across North Africa and the Saharan border region – had been killed in a U.S. air strike.
The Pentagon confirmed that Belmokhtar had indeed been targeted, but did not confirm if he had been killed.
Belmokhtar was blamed for orchestrating the 2013 attack on an Algerian gas field that killed 40 oil workers.
He has been reported killed several times.
Based on reporting by Reuters and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
