Al-Qaida: Dead or captured

--Aug. 20, 1998

The United States fires more than 70 cruise missiles against targets in Afghanistan and Sudan, focusing on two terrorist training camps in Afghanistan and a purported chemical weapons plant in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. More than 20 terrorists are killed in Afghanistan, the majority of them Pakistanis sent to the camp for training by Pakistan's intelligence service, the ISI.

--Sept. 10, 1998

Ali Mohammed, bin Laden’s former security director and a former member of U.S. special forces, is arrested in the United States, although he is not charged for another eight months, during which his capture goes unreported. One of the most important al-Qaida leaders captured to date, he ultimately reveals details of bin Laden’s security, plans for attacks in countries around the world, and how bin Laden had met with Hezbollah officials in 1994. Mohammed also reveals how he had served both the U.S. military and Zawahiri’s Egyptian Islamic Jihad during the 1980’s and early 1990’s, a time when he was briefing U.S. soldiers before they went overseas on assignment.

--Sept. 20, 1998

Wadih el-Hage, bin Laden’s private secretary in Sudan, is arrested in Arlington, Texas.  An American citizen with an American wife, el-Hage is charged with perjury for lying to a grand jury on Sept. 15 about his relationships with some of the men suspected in the East Africa embassy bombing.   He is later convicted of that and charges he was part of the embassy bombing.

--Sept. 20, 1998

Khalid al Fauwaz, in charge of al-Qaida operations in England through the Advice and Reformation Committee, is arrested and charged with conspiracy in the East Africa embassy bombings, specifically his role in helping finance the operation and target and surveile the embassy.  He is to be extradited to the United States to stand trial, although he remains in a British jail appealing the extradition order.

--June 7, 1999

Bin Laden is placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List and a $5 million reward is offered for his capture. The amount of the reward is raised to $25 million after the Sept. 11 attacks.

--Sept. 26, 2001

CIA Special Activities Division personnel arrive in Afghanistan with plans to kill or capture al-Qaida operatives.

--Oct. 7, 2001

U.S. bombing of Afghanistan begins with a presidential address to the nation.  The attacks involve massive bombing, insertion of U.S. troops and operational support for opponents to the Taliban.

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