Al-Mahra -- A senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was killed in a U.S. drone strike in northeastern Yemen, local security officials confirmed on Thursday. The strike targeted a vehicle carrying the militant leader in the province of al-Mahra, near the border with Oman. Witnesses reported a series of explosions that destroyed the vehicle and killed all those on board. The identity of the slain commander has not yet been officially disclosed, but sources described him as a high-ranking figure involved in coordinating AQAP operations across Yemen’s eastern desert regions. This latest strike underscores the continued American campaign against extremist groups in Yemen, where years of conflict have created fertile ground for militant activity.