The CIA were gunning for al-Qaeda number two Ayman al-Zawahiri in a strike on a Pakistani village near the Afghan border last week. They did not get him, but unfortunately killed 18 locals. It is possible that not everyone killed was so innocent, now reports are that four major al-Qaeda operatives were killed including a top bomb-maker Midhat Mursi, Zawahiri's son-in-law, and al-Qaeda's operations chief for the Kunar province in Afghanistan.

If this is true, it is a big blow - particularly the bomb-maker. Bomb construction is not for amateurs, and skilled engineers are essential for a terrorist organization.

But, considering past reports of high-level al-Qaeda captures, do not be surprised if one of these guys is soon promoted to al-Qaeda #3.