Al Qaeda-Linked Terrorist Killed

A top level commander of the Philippine Abu Sayyaf terror group with ties to al Qaeda has been killed in a battle on the island of Jolo. This is considered a major blow to the terrorists; Abu Sulaiman was the planner of several high-profile attacks.

MANILA, Philippines — A top al-Qaida-linked militant, long wanted by U.S. and Philippine authorities for deadly terror attacks, has been killed in a clash with troops in a major blow to his rebel group, the military said Wednesday.

Jainal Antel Sali Jr., popularly known as Abu Sulaiman _ a top leader of the Abu Sayyaf rebel group _ was fatally shot in a fierce gunbattle Tuesday in a clash with army special forces, military chief Gen. Hermogenes Esperon said, confirming earlier reports of the militant's death……

…..He allegedly helped plot a February 2004 bombing that triggered a ferry fire, killing 116 people in Southeast Asia's second-worst terror attack.

He also was accused of masterminding the kidnapping of three Americans and Filipino tourists from the southeastern island of Palawan in 2001.

One of the Americans, Guillermo Sobero, was beheaded. American missionary Gracia Burnham was wounded and rescued by army commandos after a year in jungle captivity, but her husband, Martin, was killed during the operation.

A pretty large victory in an almost forgotten front in the war on terror.