Al-Qaida confirms US strike killed leader of Yemen affiliate

Cairo: 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. 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.