According to Yemeni national security officials, the al Qaeda Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) leader was killed in a suspected U.S drone strike on Friday, June 12 inHadramout region.

Report says U.S authorities are still working to confirm al-Wuhayshi’s death.

But tweets from known AQAP agents reportedly said al-Wuhayshi has been martyred, adding that AQAP military commander Qasm al-Rimi, has been (also known as Abu Hureira al-Sanaani) appointed as al-Wuhayshi's replacement.

The man who was known as al Qaeda'scrown prince had appeared openly in a video that surfaced in April last year, he was seen greeting followers.

He said in a speech that he was going to hit America. "We must eliminate the cross..The bearer of the cross is America!"

al-Wuhayshi assumed command of AQAP in 2009. He had escaped a Yemeni prison in 2006, and had previously worked as Osama bin Laden's personal secretary.