SANAA, Yemen: Al-Qaeda Yemen’s branch has announced the death of its leader without providing any further details.
As per western media reports on Monday, the US has put a $5 million bounty on Khalid Al-Batarfi’s head over leading the militant group in the region.
Al-Qaeda Yemen’s branch has been considered as the most-dangerous branch of the terrorist group still active after the killing of founder Osama bin Laden.
Al-Qaeda released a video footage showing Al-Batarfi’s body wrapped in Al-Qaeda black-and-white flag. However, it gave no further details on the cause of his death. He is thought to be in his early 40s.
The group also announced that Saad bin Atef Al-Awlaki would be their new leader. The US has a $6 million bounty on him, saying Al-Awlaki has openly called for attacks against the United States and its allies.
Washington considers the Yemen branch of Al-Qaeda as most dangerous branch after its attempt in 2009 to hit a commercial airliner over the United States.
The group also claimed responsibility for the 2015 deadly attack in Paris on controversial French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Al-Batarfi became head of the branch, in February 2020. He replaced Qassim Al-Rimi, who was killed by a US drone strike ordered by then-President Donald Trump.
