TERROR group, al-Qaeda, in a video published on social media, has announced the death of its branch in Yemen, Khalid Saeed al-Batarfi.

The video, released on Sunday evening, showed al-Batarfi’s body in a shroud.

The cause of his death was not indicated.

Al-Batarfi had led al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula for four years.

The network in Yemen was formed in a 2009 merger between the Yemeni branch of al-Qaeda and militants from Saudi Arabia who had taken refuge there.

The United States (US) had termed the branch “al-Qaeda’s most dangerous affiliate,” and placed Al-Batarfi on its terror list, with a $5million bounty on his head.

In the video, the group announced Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki as the new leader of its Yemen branch.

Al-Awlaki is also included in the US wanted list, with a reward of up to $6million on his head for allegedly calling for attacks on the US and its allies.