US strike kills three al-Qaida fighters

SANAA (AP):

Yemeni tribal and security officials say a suspected US airstrike has killed three al-Qaida operatives, including the brother of the Yemeni affiliate's late leader.

They say yesterday's airstrike in the southern province of Bayda killed Khattab al-Wuhayshi, the brother of Nasir al-Wuhayshi, who was killed in a US drone strike nearly two years ago.

Nasir al-Wuhayshi was succeeded by Qasim al-Rimi, who currently leads the group, known as al-Qaida, in the Arabian Peninsula. The group has attempted to attack the US homeland on a number of occasions, and Washington has long considered it the most dangerous offshoot of the global terror network.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared reprisals.