Missing the Mark
A sampling of post-9/11 assassination strikes.
|
DATE |
LOCATION |
IMPLEMENT |
TARGET |
RESULT |
|
June |
Northern Somalia |
Cruise missiles launched from a U.S. warship |
Militants fighting for Somalia's Islamic Courts Union |
Killed 8 suspected fighters, according to Somali officials. |
January |
Southern Somalia |
AC-130 |
Sheik Ahmed Madobe, senior leader of Islamic Courts Union |
Missed target. Reports of many civilian deaths. |
|
January |
Southern Somalia |
AC-130 |
Aden Hashi Ayro, senior leader of Islamic Courts, suspected in murder of aid workers |
Reportedly wounded Ayro and killed dozens of civilians. |
|
October |
Town of Khar, Pakistan-Afghan border |
MQ-1 Predator drone/Pakistani military helicopter strike |
Maulana Liaquat, seminary leader, and Maulana Faqir Muhammad, cleric, alleged Taliban recruiters |
Missed Muhammad. Killed a total of 82 people, including Liaquat. |
|
December |
Predator |
North Waziristan, Pakistan |
Abu Hamza Rabia, senior Al Qaeda leader |
Killed Rabia, his Syrian bodyguards, and 2 children |
|
May |
North Waziristan, Pakistan |
Predator |
Haitham al-Yemeni, Al Qaeda leader |
Killed Yemeni |
|
June |
South Waziristan, Pakistan |
Predator, according to local witnesses |
Nek Muhammad, former Taliban commander |
Killed Muhammad and 4 other men eating dinner together |
|
April |
Basra, Iraq |
Predator |
Ali Hassan al-Majid, a.k.a. Chemical Ali, Iraqi military commander |
Fired at wrong location. Killed at least 17 civilians. |
|
November |
Marib Province, Yemen |
Predator |
Qaed Senyan al Harthi, suspected mastermind of USS Cole bombing |
Killed al Harthi, and 5 others in his car who were allegedly low-level Al Qaeda operatives |
|
February |
Zhawar Kili compound, Afghanistan |
Predator |
Tall man "treated with deference by others," thought to be Osama bin Laden |
Killed 3 peasants picking through garbage |
|
November |
Near Kabul, Afghanistan |
Predator |
Mohammed Atef, Al Qaeda military commander |
Killed Atef, and as many as 50 others |
Page 1 of 1 
