Trump confirms the killing of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula leader

By Victoria Hudson

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, confirmed on Thursday the killing of the-Qaeda leader, Qasim Al-Rimi, in the Arabian Peninsula, during an operation in Yemen conducted by US forces. 

The White House says in a statement that the United States "carried out an anti-terrorism operation in Yemen that managed to eliminate Qasim al-Rimi, one of the founders and leaders of al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula".

Previously Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed responsibility for shooting an American naval base in Florida last December, killing three sailors. 

The center, which controls the jihadist media, said in a statement that "in an audio recording of its leader, Qasim Al-Rimi, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Pensacola naval base".

The Pensacola base is the center of the US Navy foreigners' training program. It was established in 1985, primarily for Saudi students, before expanding to include other nationalities. 

Under Remy's leadership, Trump said: "Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula has committed unreasonable acts of violence against civilians in Yemen and tried to launch and inspire many attacks against the United States" adding that his death increases the Al Qaeda retreat to the Arabian Peninsula. 

So far Trump didn’t provide further details about the circumstances or the timing of the operation