Marib — A senior al-Qaeda commander was killed Tuesday in a suspected U.S. drone strike in Yemen’s northern province of Mareb, according to a local official source.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity to the German Press Agency (dpa), said the strike targeted a vehicle carrying al-Qaeda leader Kamal al-San‘ani in the al-Khaseef area of Wadi Abidah, east of Mareb city. Al-San‘ani was killed instantly along with another companion traveling with him.

Local residents reported hearing three separate airstrikes earlier in the day, believed to have been carried out by U.S. drones against militant hideouts in the valley.

Al-San‘ani was considered one of the group’s most prominent figures and was known for his expertise in maintaining explosives and unmanned aerial vehicles.

No official statement has yet been issued by Yemeni authorities regarding the operation.

U.S. drones have for years conducted airstrikes targeting al-Qaeda operatives and senior leaders across several Yemeni provinces, including Mareb, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts in the region.

Would you like me to also prepare an Arabic version of this report so you can publish it bilingually, or keep it strictly in English for now?