Bin Laden's Son Is Believed Killed

By SIOBHAN GORMAN
WSJ

WASHINGTON -- Osama bin Laden's third-eldest son, thought to be rising through al Qaeda's ranks, is believed to have been killed in a U.S. drone attack, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The likely death of Saad bin Laden, a probable Iran-al Qaeda go-between, represents a blow to al Qaeda's morale at a time when the organization has had trouble raising money and has been scrambling to regroup after a relentless campaign of drone attacks, officials said.

Mr. bin Laden wasn't the target of a Central Intelligence Agency drone but appears to have been killed during a series of attacks in Pakistan in late April and early May, said one official familiar with the matter.

The chance killing demonstrates a benefit of the drone attacks, which the CIA has intensified in the past year. Because militants congregate, a drone's hellfire missile can take out targets intelligence officials didn't even know were present. The use of drone attacks -- which some have blamed for civilian deaths -- also has drawn criticism.

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