A commander in al Qaeda’s military organization was among 17 Islamist extremists killed during today’s strikes in the Taliban-controlled tribal agency of North Waziristan in Pakistan.

Zuhaib al Zahibi, a commander in al Qaeda’s Shadow Army, or the Lashkar al Zil, was among seven Arab “foreigners” and nine Taliban fighters killed in one of two airstrikes in the Datta Khel region in North Waziristan, a senior US military intelligence official told The Long War Journal. Two other Taliban fighters were also killed in an earlier, separate strike in the Datta Khel region.

Zahib and the six al Qaeda and nine Haqqani Network fighters were killed after a swarm of five or six unmanned strike aircraft, the Predator or its more lethal successor the Reaper, opened fire on a series of targets. Ten Hellfire missiles were launched by the remotely piloted aircraft against a safe house, a cave, and a vehicle.

Zahibi was first reported killed by The Washington Post. A Pakistani intelligence official described him as “a well-known al Qaeda commander.”

The strikes took place in a region where both the Haqqani Network and North Waziristan Taliban commander Hafiz Gul Bahadar have influence. An intelligence official contacted by The Long War Journal said the Haqqani Network was providing safe haven to Zahibi and his Shadow Army cadre.

The Pakistani military and government have refused US pressure to move against the Haqqani Network and Bahadar. Instead, the Pakistani military negotiated a ceasefire with Bahadar and his ally Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan that allows the military to move through their territories without being attacked as it operates against Hakeemullah Mehsud’s Taliban faction in South Waziristan.

The Haqqanis, Bahadar, and Nazir all shelter al Qaeda leaders and operatives, and their forces operate against NATO and Afghan forces in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani, the military commander of the Haqqani Network, is close to al Qaeda and is thought to be a member of al Qaeda’s military council.

• Al Qaeda Shadow Army commander killed in US strike

Dec. 17, 2009

• US strike kills 4 al Qaeda, 2 Taliban in South Waziristan

Dec. 10, 2009

• US airstrike kills 3 in North Waziristan

Dec. 8, 2009

• US airstrike kills 4 Taliban in North Waziristan

Nov. 18, 2009

• US kills 4 in North Waziristan airstrike

Nov. 4, 2009

• US airstrike targets al Qaeda in North Waziristan

Oct. 21, 2009

• US kills 4 in strike on Haqqani Network in North Waziristan

Oct. 14, 2009

• US strike kills Haqqani Network and foreign fighters in North Waziristan

Sept. 30, 2009

• US aircraft strike in North and South Waziristan

Sept. 29, 2009

• US airstrike targets Haqqani Network in North Waziristan

Sept. 24, 2009

• Two al Qaeda leaders reported killed in North Waziristan strike

Sept. 14, 2009

• 12 killed in second US strike in North Waziristan

Sept. 8, 2009

• Senior al Qaeda leaders reported killed in North Waziristan strike

Sept. 7, 2009

• US strikes Taliban compound in South Waziristan, 8 killed

Aug. 27, 2009

• US Predators target the Haqqanis in North Waziristan

Aug. 20, 2009

• US kills 14 in strike on Taliban training camp in South Waziristan

Aug. 11, 2009

• Baitullah Mehsud’s wife killed in Predator attack

Aug. 5, 2009

• US Predator strikes in North Waziristan, kills 5

July 17, 2009

• US strikes Taliban communications center in South Waziristan

July 10, 2009

• US kills 25 Taliban in second Predator strike in South Waziristan

July 8, 2009

• US Predator strike on Taliban camp kills 8 in South Waziristan

July 8, 2009

• US Predator strike kills 14 Taliban in South Waziristan

July 7, 2009

• 13 Taliban fighters killed in US airstrikes in Pakistan

July 3, 2009

• Scores of Taliban killed in second US strike in South Waziristan

June 23, 2009

• Six killed in US Predator attack in South Waziristan

June 23, 2009

• US strikes target Mullah Nazir in South Waziristan

June 18, 2009

• US kills 5 in South Waziristan strike

June 14, 2009

• US strikes Taliban, al Qaeda in North Waziristan

May 16, 2009

• US strikes again in South Waziristan

May 12, 2009

• US strike targets Baitullah Mehsud territory in South Waziristan

May 9, 2009

• US strike kills 10 Taliban in South Waziristan

April 29, 2009

• US airstrike targets Taliban training camp in South Waziristan

April 19, 2009

• US Predator kills four in South Waziristan strike

April 8, 2009

• US strikes Haqqani Network in North Waziristan

April 4, 2009

• US launches first strike in Arakzai tribal agency

April 1, 2009

• Latest US strike targets al Qaeda safe house in North Waziristan

March 26, 2009

• US airstrike kills 8 in Baitullah Mehsud’s hometown

March 25, 2009

• US launches second strike outside of Pakistan’s tribal areas

March 15, 2009

• US missile strike in Kurram agency kills 14

March 12, 2009

• US airstrike kills 8 in South Waziristan

March 1, 2009

• US airstrike in Pakistan’s Kurram tribal agency kills 30

Feb. 16, 2009

• US Predator strike in South Waziristan kills 25

Feb. 14, 2009

• US strikes al Qaeda in North and South Waziristan

Jan. 23, 2009

• US hits South Waziristan in second strike

Jan. 2, 2009

• US kills 4 al Qaeda operatives in South Waziristan strike

Jan. 1, 2009

For a summary of US strikes inside Pakistan in 2008, see “US strikes in 2 villages in South Waziristan”.

Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of FDD's Long War Journal.

Are you a dedicated reader of FDD's Long War Journal? Has our research benefitted you or your team over the years? Support our independent reporting and analysis today by considering a one-time or monthly donation. Thanks for reading! You can make a tax-deductible donation here.