Another US Hit on Major Terrorist goes Largely Unnoticed

The US military has carried out another hit on a senior terrorist leader, albeit initially without 100% certainty or the fanfare that accompanied the strikes that killed Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi and Qasem Soleimani. The terrorist believed to have been killed in a series of drone attacks during the past several weeks is Qassim al-Rimi, the leader of al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), which is arguably the most lethal and far-reaching of groups akin to franchises of the al-Qaida brand.  Of note is the group’s dedication to striking at Western nations and the belief by counterterrorism experts that AQAP has the capabilities to make good on those threats. Al-Rimi, according to a security brief published by the Soufan Center, managed several ‘near misses’ against US airliners, including the notorious underwear bomber plot and another plot against cargo planes with explosive-laden printer cartridges on-board.