Al Qaeda 's No . 2 leader in Arabia was Abu Sufyan al-Azdi , also named Saeed al-Shahri . U.S. drone activity increased in 2012 targeting senior leaders of AQAP . Yemen confirms he was killed in a November counter-terrorism operation . Comment: Al-Azdi was buried by militants at an undisclosed place in Yemen , officials say .
Al Qaeda 's No . 2 leader in Arabia was Abu Sufyan al-Azdi , also named Saeed al-Shahri . Yemen confirms he was killed in a November counter-terrorism operation . Comment: Al-Azdi was buried by militants at an undisclosed place in Yemen , officials say .