WASHINGTON – The White House has confirmed the death of Hamza bin Laden, son of slain al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and himself a notable figure in the group.
The younger bin Laden was killed in a US counterterrorism operation, a statement released on Saturday said, adding that the operation took place in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, as Aljazeera reported.
The death of Hamza bin Laden “not only deprives al-Qa’ida [sic] of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group,” said the statement.
In late July, intelligence officials in the United States were believed to have had received information that Hamza bin Laden had been killed, but gave no details of the date or place.
The New York Times also reported Hamza bin Laden had been killed in an operation within the last two years.
The White House did not confirm or deny the reports at the time.
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Saturday’s confirmation came three days after the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks – masterminded by Osama bin Laden – in which nearly 3,000 people were killed.
Osama bin Laden was killed in an operation by US forces in Pakistan in May 2011.
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