American killed in airstrike was alleged leader of Buffalo cell

WASHINGTON -- The Yemeni-American killed in a CIA airstrike on Nov. 3 is believed to be Kamal Derwish, the alleged leader of a Buffalo, N.Y.-based cell with links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist organization, U.S. officials say.

The reported name of the man killed in Yemen, Ahmed Hijazi, is a pseudonym for Derwish, officials said Tuesday, speaking on condition of anonymity. He was a U.S. citizen, U.S. and Yemeni officials have said.

A woman answering the phone at the home of Derwish's aunt said Monday that Derwish was dead. She was contacted in Lackawanna, the Buffalo suburb where U.S. officials say the al-Qaida cell was based.

"Yes, he's killed," she said, declining to identify herself. "I tell that already to many people. I don't want to talk anymore, please. Leave us alone now. We mourn."

On Nov. 3, a CIA Predator unmanned aircraft near Marib, Yemen, fired a missile at a car carrying Qaed Salim Sinan al-Harethi, said to be al-Qaida's chief operative in Yemen. Hijazi and four other alleged al-Qaida operatives, were traveling with him and were also killed.

Al-Harethi, one of al-Qaida's most senior operatives, was the apparent target of the strike. U.S. officials are not believed to have known Derwish was in the car. His identity was first reported by Newsday.

The strike on al-Harethi was conducted under a wide-ranging directive by President Bush allowing the CIA to pursue al-Qaida operatives worldwide.