Sons of Bin Laden Reported Captured in Afghanistan

March 7, 2003

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan  — Two sons of Usama bin Laden were arrested in southeastern Afghanistan in a joint operation involving Pakistani and U.S. forces, Pakistan's provincial home minister Sanaullah Zehri said Friday.

"They were arrested from Rabat area in Afghanistan," he said in a telephone interview. He said seven other Al Qaeda terrorists were killed in the operation.

Arrested were Saad and Hamza bin Laden, two of what are believed to be 14 to 18 sons of Usama bin Laden, the leader of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization. Saad is believed closely tied to the operations of Al Qaeda.

In Washington, U.S. counterterrorism officials strongly disputed reports saying bin Laden's sons were captured. They said they had no information that would suggest any of the sons had been detained.

Zehri refused to say which military units were involved.

"They were allied forces," he said, operating near Rabat in the extreme southwestern tip of Afghanistan where it borders Pakistan and Iran.

Some sources claim Bin Laden has at least 23 children by several wives. Saad is one the oldest, in his early 20s, and has emerged as an Al Qaeda leader and one of America's top two dozen targets in the network.

Mohammed and Ahmed bin Laden also support their father's efforts, U.S. officials say.

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