Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada

Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada is an al-Qaeda operative from Yemen whose family was described by US government officials as a "supercell" within the al-Qaeda network.[1] By February 2002, the "communications hub" which al-Hada running was no longer active following the death of his son, Samir.[2]

Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada
BornUnknown
Dhamar Governorate, Yemen
NationalityYemeni
Occupational-Qaeda "switchboard" host
Children1
Military career
Allegiance Al-Qaeda
Years of service1980s–?
RankOfficer of Al-Qaeda and communications supervisor
Battles/wars

Early life and Al-Qaeda

Al-Hada is native of Dhamar Governorate, and is a veteran of Soviet–Afghan War, where he met Osama bin Laden. It's reported that al-Hada was a close friend of Bin Laden. From 1996 until 2006, he operated, along with his son, Samir Al-Hada, an al-Qaeda safe house and a communication center in Sana'a, which was the direct link from al-Qaeda central to Yemen. He was captured by the Yemeni government in 2006, but was set free, possibly after a tribal deal. As of 2007, his whereabouts are unknown.[3]

Family

Al-Hada's son-in-law, Khalid al-Mihdhar, was one of the hijackers that flew American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon as part of the September 11 attacks.[2] Another son-in-law, Mustafa Abdulkader, has been listed on FBI terror alerts. In February 2002, Al-Hada's son, Samir al-Hada, committed suicide using a hand grenade,[4] to avoid questioning by security forces about the Cole bombing.[5] Two of Ahmed Al-Hada’s brothers were killed in Afghanistan during operation “Absolute Justice” and a third brother, Abdullah Al-Hada, is wanted by the Yemen authorities for terror charges.

USS Cole bombing

Al-Hada allegedly provided the telephone number in Yemen[6] that served as the switchboard for al-Qaeda operations leading up to the USS Cole bombing and September 11 attacks.[7] In The Looming Tower he was cited as being in Yemeni custody.[8]

References
  1. "Al-Qaida leaders, associates :Ahmad Mohammad ali al-Hada". NBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. "Profile: Ahmed al-Hada". History Commons. Archived from the original on 23 March 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  3. "Slain Yemeni al-Qaida suspect had family ties to terrorism". Archived from the original on 28 August 2007. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  4. "emeni Suspect Was Related to Sept. 11 Hijacker". ABC News. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  5. Robert Windrem. "Al-Qaida leaders, associates". NBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  6. "Ahmad Mohammad Ali al-Hada". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  7. "U.S. links Yemen clan to Sept. 11 and East Africa attacks". bouwman.com. MSNBC. 14 February 2002. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  8. Wright, Lawrence (2006). The Looming Tower. Knopf. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-375-41486-2. Retrieved 6 May 2011.
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