Yemen’s Al Qaeda chief killed in U.S. strike

Nasser al-Wuhayshi, the head of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), has been killed by a U.S. airstrike in Yemen, according to a video statement released by the militant organisation
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Nasser al-Wuhayshi, also knownas Abu Basir, pictured in 2012

1976: Born in southern Yemen. Spends time in religious institutions before travelling to Afghanistan in 1998 to join Al Qaeda

1998-2001: Serves as personal secretary to Osama bin Laden until U.S. invasion of Afghanistan

2001: Fights at battle of Tora Bora before escaping to Iran. Eventually arrested by Iranian authorities

2003: Extradited to Yemen and imprisoned. Escapes by tunnelling out of Sanaa jail in 2006

2007: Becomes leader of Al Qaedain Yemen, then head of AQAP in 2009 when terror network’s Yemeniand Saudi wings merged

2008-2012: AQAP blamed forstring of attacks against West and inside Yemen, including foiled 2009 plot to blow up U.S.-bound airliner.U.S. steps up drone strikes against AQAP in Yemen

2013: Made second-in-command of Al Qaeda’s global network

Jun 12, 2015: Killed in U.S. drone strike on city of Mukalla. Succeeded by his deputy, Qasim al-Raymi
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AQAP presence

SAUDI ARABIA

Sanaa

Aden

DJIBOUTI

SOMALIA

YEMEN

Mukalla

Gulf of Aden

160km 100 miles
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Source: Wire agencies

Picture: Getty Images

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