A file video grab of an undated footage from the Internet shows Al Qaeda leader in Afghanistan Mustafa abu al-Yazid, also known as Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, making statements from an unknown location. U. S. intelligence agencies believe al-Masri, al Qaeda's No. 3 leader, was killed recently in a missile strike in the tribal areas of Pakistan. Photograph: The Independent
Al-Qa'ida No.3 'Killed in Pakistan'
THE INDEPENDENT: Al-Qa'ida's third-in-command, whose role spanned from operations to fundraising, is believed to have been killed last month in a US missile strike in Pakistan, dealing a serious blow to the embattled group.

Sheikh Sa'id al-Masri, also known as Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, was believed to be killed along with members of his family in a strike by a pilotless CIA-operated drone attack. al-Qa'ida confirmed his death in a statement on a Islamist website earlier on Monday.

"We have strong reason to believe ... that al-Masri was killed recently in Pakistan's tribal areas," a US official in Washington said on condition of anonymity. "In terms of counterterrorism, this would be a big victory." >>> Zeeshan Haider, Reuters | Tuesday, June 01, 2010