Once Osama bin Laden’s chief bodyguard and a senior trainer of militants, experts on the jihadist movement say Adel began his long bloody career in 1981, when he was killed in an army raid by Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat’s Islamist troops. He was suspected of involvement in the murder. The parade in Cairo which was televised.
Jihad expert Elizabeth Kendall at the University of Oxford said, “Saif al-Adel’s professional military background and valuable experience as head of al Qaeda’s military committee before 9/11 means he has the skills to handle the overall leadership of al Qaeda.” has strong credentials for.”
He oversees an Al Qaeda that has become highly decentralized since the group carried out its most spectacular operation, the September 11, 2001 airstrikes against the United States that killed nearly 3,000 people.
operative for leader
Experts say Adel is one of the few remaining al-Qaeda old guard, close to the central command for decades. He said he would be tasked with providing strategic guidance to far-flung franchises in the Middle East, Africa and Asia as they run their daily affairs.
Some question, however, whether Adel can be an effective manager of the organization after spending most of his career as an operative and trainer in militant camps.
“Many insiders argue that he had an important operational role in the past, but he is not equipped for leadership,” said Jerome Drevon, senior analyst on jihad and modern conflict at the International Crisis Group.
“His skills are more suited to the organization of armed operations than to the administration of an extensive network of allied organizations.”