The French magazine La Figaro reported on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 that a number of high ranking Al Qaida leaders who have been in Iran for past decade were released by the Iranian regime to be deployed to Syria to fight on the behalf of the Syrian dictator Bashar Assad.
These Al Qaida members were settled in Iran after the Sept. 11, 2001 horrific attacks on the US soil. La Figaro adds that the release of these members was part of a prisoner swap by the Yemeni Al Qaida earlier this year where a senior Iranian official was released in exchange for the release of these members. These Al Qaida members have now left Iran for Syria.
Figaro states that 5 senior members of Al Qaida were among the group released which includes Saif Al-Adl, a very senior and well-known member of the terrorist group. Adl, according to the Figaro, is a member of executive council of Al Qaida and was lead member of the Ben Laden’s security team. He also organized and directed the majority of the terrorist operations up to 2001. Saif al Adl who was one of the most senior member of the Al Qaida joined the group from his hide away in Iran.