Reports of Al Zawahiri’s demise might actually be true, and they’re doing forensic tests:
Eighteen people were killed, according to the villagers who said women and children were among the fatalities.
But Pakistani officials tell ABC News that five of those killed were high-level al Qaeda figures, and their bodies are now undergoing forensic tests for positive identification.
Officials say Zawahiri was known to have used safe houses in this area last winter and was believed to be in the area again this winter.
The ‘sphere has been all abuzz with the initial reports, but I’ll wait for the forensic evicence to come back before I get too hopeful…