The Hill News

Lawmakers hailed the killing of the American-born al Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki after reports of his death in a drone strike surfaced Friday.

Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee Pete King (R-N.Y.) said that Awlaki had recently become even more dangerous than Osama bin Laden, who Navy SEALs killed in May, and described the death as another win against the terrorist network.

“The killing of Anwar al-Awlaki is a great success in our fight against al-Qaeda and its affiliates,” King tweeted.

Awlaki was accused of helping to motivate the failed Christmas Day bombing in 2009 and the attempt in 2010 to blow up U.S. cargo. Some intelligence officials and lawmakers also accused Awlaki of fueling the Fort Hood massacre, in which a member of the U.S. military killed 13 people.

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