Al-Qaida confirms U.S. drone strike has killed the leader of its Yemen affiliate



CAIRO (AP) — Al-Qaida has confirmed that Nasir al-Wuhayshi, its No. 2 figure and leader of its powerful Yemeni affiliate, has been killed in a U.S. drone strike.

In a video statement released early Tuesday by the media wing of Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula, the group confirmed his death and said his deputy, Qassim al-Rimi, has been named its new leader.

Al-Wuhayshi was the deputy of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri and once served as Osama bin Laden's personal secretary.