Al-Qaeda Says U.S. Strike Killed Second in Command
Al-Qaeda’s second in command has been killed in a U.S. airstrike, the extremist group said Tuesday.
Nasir al-Wahishi was also the leader of its Yemeni branch al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), considered the most dangerous al-Qaeda affiliate by U.S. officials.
In a video statement released early Tuesday by AQAP’s media wing, the group confirmed his death and said his deputy, Qassim al-Rimi, has been named its new leader. The news of Al-Wahishi ‘s death could not be independently confirmed. U.S. officials have said they are trying to verify whether he has been killed.
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