U.S. intel: Hamza bin Laden, son of Osama bin Laden, believed dead

The son of former al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, Hamza, is believed to be dead, according to U.S. intelligence.

The New York Times, quoting unnamed sources on Wednesday, reported Hamza bin Laden had been killed sometime over the past two years.

The United States has obtained intelligence that the son and potential successor of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Hamza bin Laden, is dead, according to three U.S. officials: https://t.co/eUbc3cYZwc @ckubeNBC reports for @NBCNightlyNews now.

— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 1, 2019

Letters captured in the Pakistan raid which killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 indicate he was grooming Hamza to succeed him as leader of the terrorist group. Earlier this year, the State Department offered a $1 million reward for information leading to his capture or death.

Hamza bin Laden, the son of Osama who was seen as the next heir to al-Qaeda, is dead, U.S. officials say; one official tells CBS News Hamza was killed in a military operation, of which he was not the intended target. -@CBS

pic.twitter.com/XkFWzNRcK1

— FierceWarriorNStilettos (@InactionNever) July 31, 2019

Officials would not provide details of where or when Hamza bin Laden died or if the United States played a role in his death.

5) Worth stressing: Hamza bin Laden was not targeted merely for being Usamah bin Laden’s son. He was one of al-Qaeda’s loudest voices calling for attacks in the West and giving directives. He, with al-Qaeda’s help, was positioning himself to lead the global jihadi movement. pic.twitter.com/wZ8dwKPqkL

— Rita Katz (@Rita_Katz) July 31, 2019

NBC News was first to report the U.S. government had assessed Hamza bin Laden to be dead.

NEW: US has obtained intel that Hamza bin Laden, the son and potential successor of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, is dead, according to three US officials. https://t.co/MXiXPIkUZT - @ckubeNBC pic.twitter.com/Vd2SjIMUiN

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) July 31, 2019

President Trump was asked by reporters on Wednesday if the U.S. had intelligence that Hamza bin Laden was dead, Trump replied: “I don’t want to comment on that.”