A few caveats here.

First, no officials have yet gone on record confirming the kill. It’s all unnamed American officials making claims to NBC News.

Second, Pakistan has strongly denied the reports. Which would seem important considering the kill allegedly took place in Pakistan, though Islamabad has little control over the region in question.

Finally, it’s not Osama Bin Laden. Even NBC News says the top leader wasn’t killed and it’s very unlikely that Zawahiri is at room temperature now, either. All we know is that anonymous officials claim a “high-ranking” member was killed.

Obviously I hope we bagged the highest-ranking official possible. In fact, let’s hope the officials are wrong and OBL is now being consumed by maggots. We’ve just seen these reports and then been disappointed too many times.

More: Hot Air points out that CBS News reports that Zawahiri isn’t the dead terrorist, either.