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“... [al-Masri] continued to live in Tehran, under the protection of the Revolutionary Guards and later the [MOIS].”
His death also rid the Iranians of a headache.
His death also rid the Iranians of a headache.
“With Masri’s death, the only remaining member of al-Qaeda’s shura council — its core leadership — with operational al-Qaeda terrorist experience is Saif al-Adel, who is believed still to be in Iran.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/al-masri-qaeda-killed-iran/2020/11/14/63b5590e-2626-11eb-a688-5298ad5d580a_story.html
I wouldn’t like to be in al-Adel’s shoes right now, assuming he’s still alive. The Iranians have every incentive to make him and anyone with him disappear.
“The [US IC official] said al-Masri’s daughter, Maryam, was also a target of the operation. The U.S. believed she was being groomed for a leadership role in al-Qaida and intelligence suggested she was involved in operational planning...” https://apnews.com/article/embassies-israel-iran-dar-es-salaam-tanzania-1df82848c97cb11f0d82f50055faf7b5
So she wasn’t collateral damage but a target, too. Interesting.
“The Channel 13 news report also said the killing of al-Masri in the heart of Tehran had prompted an intensive investigation by Iran of the intelligence breach that saw him tracked down.” https://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-al-qaeda-no-2-was-planning-attacks-on-israelis-jews-when-killed-in-tehran/
He was reportedly under MOIS protection.
“...because he was a minor target for Israel, the Mossad would not have risked its own staff combatants to kill Abdullah. Most probably, the Israeli foreign service activated foreigners who had worked on similar operations in the past.” https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-what-s-behind-israel-s-reported-hit-on-al-qaida-leader-in-iran-1.9309824
“In this context, it’s important to note that Iran and some foreign media outlets have accused Israel of previously working with Iranian opposition groups or mercenaries.”
Some good analysis here. https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2020/11/analysis-al-qaedas-deputy-emir-killed-in-iran.php
Some very interesting bits in @SpyTalker’s piece. One:
“Could [the Iranians], as my source, an authoritative denizen of the counterterroism world, wondered, have counted on somebody like the New York Times to get to the bottom of the affair?”
“Could [the Iranians], as my source, an authoritative denizen of the counterterroism world, wondered, have counted on somebody like the New York Times to get to the bottom of the affair?”
The Iranians playing a bank shot and essentially using the Times as a unwitting cutout to unearth CI information for them is very plausible. IRGC and MOIS are pros and know how to play the game.
"Almost no one has talked about Afghanistan in the middle of all of this." https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/how-did-iran-al-qaeda-end-up-in-bed-together-649333
“‘This operation likely blew the cover or ability to operate half a dozen assets or more in Iran,’ said the [European intelligence] official.” https://www.businessinsider.com/abu-mohammed-al-masri-asassination-2020-11
"’Sure the Israelis and Americans are “friends” but giving up a bunch of assets that took many years and much money to get into place requires compensation.’”
"Curiously, however, Tabnak added that the [assassination] occurred across the street from the home of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, .... [who] was killed on January 3, 2020, together with Qassem Soleimani..." https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/11/20/the-al-masri-assassination-another-iranian-intelligence-failure/
