Al-Qaida confirms coalition strike killed top leader in Syria

Al-Qaida has confirmed that top leader Abu Khayr al-Masri, believed to be the organization's number two, was killed in a drone strike by the U.S.-led coalition in Syria.The killing of Masri, described by analysts as "jihadi royalty," could serve as a major security coup for US President Donald Trump early in his presidency.Two branches of the global jihadist group, including the powerful al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), announced Masri's death in a statement dated Wednesday.