One of Osama bin Laden's eldest sons has become a rising star in his father's terrorist network. Saad bin Laden has gained so much new authority that U.S. counterterrorism officials now name him among their top two dozen targets in al Qaeda.

Saad, a Saudi like his father, is thought to be in his early 20s, and is one of Osama bin Laden's eldest sons, officials said. Also, like his father, he is thought to currently be in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region.