Speculation about Gadahn's death surfaced immediately after the airstrike, as Pakistani sources told US and Pakistani news agencies that Gadahn had not been seen or heard from since the strike. Gadahn was purportedly attending the meeting chaired by Laith, who was planning al Qaeda's 2008 campaign in Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda has been quick to lionize the death of its leaders, for propaganda and recruiting reasons. Laith's death was announced on a jihadi Internet forum within three days of the airstrike in North Waziristan.