Washington: In the most significant blow to al-Qaeda since the death of Osama bin Laden, its leader in the Arabian Peninsula and deputy to chief Ayman al-Zawahiri was killed in a US drone strike in Yemen, the White House today confirmed.

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has said in a video statement that Nasir al-Wahishi was dead. "Wahishi's death strikes a major blow to AQAP, al-Qaeda's most dangerous affiliate, and to al-Qaeda more broadly," said Ned Price, spokesperson of the National Security Council at the White House.