Al-Qaeda's Number Two Leader Killed in U.S. Airstrike in Yemen

According to reports from the United States, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and known as the number two man in the network, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Yemen. CNN reported on June 15, citing two Yemeni national security officials, that the strike occurred on Friday, June 13, seemingly carried out by a drone in the Hadhramaut region. The identity of the Yemeni national security officials was not mentioned in the report. The network also referenced tweets from Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula indicating that al-Wuhayshi was killed and that Qasim al-Raymi, a military commander of the group, has taken his place. The New York Times also reported, citing Yemeni officials and statements from Al-Qaeda, about the possibility of the death of 'the number two man in the entire Al-Qaeda network.' U.S. officials have not confirmed these reports, but the New York Times quoted them as saying they are investigating the matter. Reuters stated that if the reports are accurate, it would be a significant blow to one of the most active branches of Al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula is considered one of the most dangerous and active extremist networks, with operations attributed to it outside the Middle East. This group is responsible for planning and executing the attack on Charlie Hebdo in Paris. An American official told Reuters that Washington is examining the reports. This unnamed official refrained from commenting on the potential role of the United States in the 'strike.' However, another official stated that the U.S. military was not involved in any attack. It remains unclear whether a potential strike could have been carried out by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). According to a book by George Johnson, al-Wuhayshi was born in southern Yemen and went to Afghanistan in 1998 to join Al-Qaeda. He met Osama bin Laden and was considered one of his senior aides until 2001. He took over the leadership of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula in 2009 after escaping from prison. This network is responsible for extensive attacks in Yemen that have resulted in the deaths of hundreds over the past years. The recent report comes a day after the legitimate Libyan government stated that Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a former commander of 'Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb,' who led a group that killed 39 people in an attack on a gas facility in Algeria two years ago, was 'killed in a U.S. airstrike.'