Muhammad Atef

al-Qaeda leader

Also known as: Sobhi Abu Sitta

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July 15, 2026

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Muhammad Atef was a high-ranking leader within al-Qaeda, serving as the head of Osama bin Laden's personal security force and later as the head of al-Qaeda's military planning. He was believed to have trained some of the individuals involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Atef was killed in 2001.12

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Saif al-Adel
…reporting to the group’s commander, Muhammad Atef. It is believed that after Atef’s death in 2001, al-Adel succeeded him as head of al-Qaeda’s military planning. In late 2001 al-Adel fled Afghanistan for Iran, where he was detained by Iranian authorities. He spent most of the next decade under house arrest…
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…reporting to the group’s commander, Muhammad Atef. It is believed that after Atef’s death in 2001, al-Adel succeeded him as head of al-Qaeda’s military planning. In late 2001 al-Adel fled Afghanistan for Iran, where he was detained by Iranian authorities. He spent most of the next decade under house arrest…
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September 11 attacks
The plot
…Laden and his military commander Muhammad Atef realized that Atta and his fellow Western-educated jihadists were far better suited to lead the attacks on Washington and New York than the men they had already recruited, leading bin Laden to appoint Atta to head the operation.
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…Laden and his military commander Muhammad Atef realized that Atta and his fellow Western-educated jihadists were far better suited to lead the attacks on Washington and New York than the men they had already recruited, leading bin Laden to appoint Atta to head the operation.
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