US strike in Yemen kills regional Al Qaeda leader

A US air strike in Yemen killed Usama Haidar, one of the regional leaders of Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization outlawed in many countries including Russia, US media reported. (Photo: Franco Pecchio/Flickr)

MOSCOW—A US air strike in Yemen killed Usama Haidar, one of the regional leaders of Al Qaeda, a terrorist organization outlawed in many countries including Russia, US media reported.

Haidar’s car was hit by either a drone or a plane and the man himself was killed, an NBC broadcaster reported, citing Haidar’s brother-in-law, Aly Mohamed Somly.

Somly reportedly said that Haidar initially joined Al Qaeda’s fight against the Shia Houthi movement.

On Friday, US Department of Defense spokesperson Jeff Davis said the US had carried out more than 30 strikes in Yemen in two days, targeting Al Qaeda.

In January, the US conducted a raid in Yemen, which helped acquire important intelligence, according to the Defense Department. It also resulted in the death of 14 terrorists and a US Navy SEAL.

The Yemeni government headed by Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi is locked in military conflict with Shia Houthi rebels, the country’s main opposition force. The Houthis are backed by army units loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.