White House: Abu Yahya al-Libi death a 'major blow' to al-Qaeda
US intelligence sources have confirmed the death of al-Qaeda deputy leader Abu Yahya al-Libi adding there is no clear successor to take over his role.
US officials waited more than 24 hours before commenting that they were confident Libi had been killed in Pakistan.
Libi, a Libyan citizen believed to be in his late 40s, had been reported dead, prematurely, in 2009.
He died when missiles destroyed his vehicle and a militant compound in North Waziristan, leaving 15 dead.
"I can tell you that he served as al-Qaeda's general manager, responsible for overseeing the group's day-to-day operations in the tribal areas of Pakistan and he managed outreach to al-Qaeda's regional affiliates," said White House spokesman Jay Carney.
"There is no clear successor to take on the breadth of his responsibilities. This would be a major blow, we believe, al-Libi's death is a major blow to core al-Qaeda."