Al Qaeda has confirmed that the leader of its Arabian Peninsula affiliate, Nasser Al Wuhayshi, has been killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen.
His death was announced in a video released by the Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), in which it said two other jihadists had died as well, reported the BBC.
The confirmation came shortly after reports claimed that the U.S. drone attacks in Hadramawt province had killed Al Qaeda's second-in-command last Friday. Al Wuhayshi also served as slain Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's private secretary.
He was responsible for approving targets, recruiting jihadists, allocating resources to terrorists and planning attacks. He assumed the role of the AQAP leader after the Yemeni and Saudi branches of the terror outfit merged in 2009.
His death is the biggest assault on Al Qaeda since Bin Laden's death in 2011.
The U.S. Department of State had offered a bounty of USD 10 million for anyone who could help bring Al Wuhayshi to justice.
Military chief Qasim al-Raymi has been named as his successor, the group said in the video.