WASHINGTON: A senior al Qaeda leader was killed by a CIA drone strike in Pakistan's tribal areas in the last few days, two US officials said on Thursday.

The al Qaeda leader, who was known as Abu Hafs al Shahri, was described by one of the officials as chief of operations for al Qaeda inside Pakistan. He also served as the militant group's coordinator with the main Pakistani Taliban group, known as the TTP, according to the official.

Precise details of the location and timing of the drone strike were not immediately available. Al Shahri was described as a Saudi Arabian national.