It’s been confirmed that Khaled Saleh Al-Din Zaida, a senior member of AQAP and the de facto leader Saif Al-Adel, has passed away.
The news was verified by Al-Malahim, AQAP’s official publication, although no specific details were disclosed.
Khaled, who was 29 years old, was actively involved in the group, often working closely with his father on various operations. His recent mission was in Yemen, where he served as al-Adel’s personal representative.
Khaled, born in 1995, played a critical role in recruiting, managing media, and resolving internal conflicts within AQAP. He inherited these responsibilities from his father and even authored an anti-American article titled “By Allah or Our Hands,” along with sharing a graph outlining Yemen’s national debt.
Khaled’s death is a significant loss for AQAP, particularly for his father, who may be currently in hiding in Iran.
Saif Al-Adel, previously known as Mohammed Salah al-Din Zaidan, is a seasoned jihadist with a history of involvement in terrorist activities. He is believed to have taken over leadership of Al-Qaeda following the death of Ayman Al-Zawahiri in 2022.
Throughout the 1980s, Saif served as a colonel in Egypt‘s El-Sa’ka Forces before being expelled in 1987 due to involvement in planning to overthrow the government. He subsequently joined Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia and was instrumental in producing Osama Bin Laden‘s videos.
Following the 9/11 attacks, Saif sought refuge with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran, directing Al-Qaeda’s efforts against U.S. forces and coalition partners.
In a 2023 UN report, Saif was recognized as the de facto leader of Al-Qaeda, facing challenges in formal appointment due to political and theological sensitivities, particularly in Shia-led Iran.
Saif may have been linked to the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania that resulted in hundreds of fatalities. He remains a key figure on the FBI’s Most Wanted list in connection to these attacks.