ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT SCORE SHORT TERM VICTORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ALGIERS 001468

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2027
TAGS: PTER ASEC AG
SUBJECT: ALGERIAN GOVERNMENT SCORE SHORT TERM VICTORY
KILLING AQIM EMIR.

REF: ALGIERS 1118

Classified By: Ambassador Robert S. Ford. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Algerian press buzzed the past two days
with news of the death of key AQIM emir Sofiane Fassila,
proclaiming Fassila's killing at the hands of the security
services as a major government victory against terrorism.
Fassila was the commander of the most active and organized
AQIM group and his involvement in multiple suicide bombings
marks him as a great loss for AQIM. While the killing of one
key leader is certainly a blow to AQIM, his death signifies
the end of an individual and not the end of an ideology.
Based on AQIM's behavior this past summer, we expect AQIM to
retaliate. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Many Algerian newspapers headlined on October 9 the
killing of Sofiane Fassila by the Algerian security forces.
The Arabic-language Algiers daily newspaper Echourouq
el-Youmi, one of the most informed on Islamist issues,
reported that AQIM terrorist emir Zuhir Harek (aka Sofiane
abu Hydra or Sofiane Fassila) was killed along with two other
terrorists in the Boghna region, in the province of Tizi
Ouzou. Echourouq noted that Fassila was an elite emir and
the leader of the most deadly and active group within AQIM,
"Katibat Al-Ansar," that operates in the central region of
Algeria.


3. (U) Fassila was behind the recent spike in suicide
bombings in the troubled Kabylie region that helped make
September the bloodiest month of the last ten years,
according to the press. Press reporting quoted security
experts saying that he was the mastermind of the April 11
suicide attack at the Prime Minister's office in Algiers in
addition to the July 11 suicide bombing in Lakhdaria, Dellys
and the assassination attempt in Batna against President
Bouteflika. Fassila reportedly was very close to AQIM leader
Abu Mosaab Abdelwudoud aka Droukdal, and he had AQIM leader
Droukdal's ear at anytime.


4. (U) According to the Echourouk October 9 article, Fassila
was killed when the Algerian military opened fire on the
stolen vehicle the terrorists were driving. After they
refused to stop for an identity check, the driver accelerated
in an attempt to escape while one of the terrorists in the
back seat opened fire on the military officers stationed at
the checkpoint. Three military officers were wounded during
the fight.


5. (C) Well-informed Al-Jazair news editor Hamida Ayachi told
us on October 9 that the alleged death of Fassila will not
have a major impact on the terrorist organization, as Fassila
could be easily replaced. Indeed, Algerian newspaper le Soir
d'Algerie reported on October 7 that a new emir was appointed
for Katibat al-Ansar named Ali Bentouali, aka Amine. However,
Ayachi did expect that AQIM would retaliate for Fassila's
death with a fierce strike targeting civilians and security
personnel to counter recent government propaganda on the
successes of military operations against AQIM cells in the
Kabylie region. (Comment: an attack that targets civilians
would appear to differ from the majority of AQIM attacks,
especially in the wake of the internal AQIM debate about the
propriety of killing civilians. Fassila was not against
killing civilians for the right cause. End Comment.)


6. (C) Ayachi added that much suspicion and doubt surrounds
Fassila's death. He said that only a few newspapers were
able to authenticate the identity of the terrorist killed.
(Note: we believe Ayachi is referring to newspapers with
close ties to the Algerian Intelligence Services (DRS) such
as Echourouq and El-Khabar. End note.). Ayachi advised that
we wait few days until facts emerge to get a better sense of
the impact on AQIM.


7. (C) COMMENT: Although difficult to confirm, the alleged
killing of AQIM emir Sofiane Fassila has already motivated
the Algerian Government to use this propaganda to reassure
the Algerian population that its security operations are
gaining successes. Embassy Algiers has been checking AQIM
and other jihadi websites to confirm Fassila's death, but so

ALGIERS 00001468 002 OF 002


far we have not found any AQIM commentary about it. AQIM
usually is quick to post communiques to clarify situations,
so their silence now is unusual. Whether Fassila's death is
confirmed or not, we believe the perception of GOA success is
sufficient to provoke a significant AQIM response, either
through propaganda or actual attacks.

FORD