WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama said Friday the killing of US-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaqi was “major blow” to al Qaeda's Yemeni franchise and vowed to be relentless in destroying global terror networks.

“The death of Awlaqi is a major blow to al Qaeda's most active operational affiliate. (It) marks another significant milestone in the broader effort to defeat al Qaeda and its affiliates,” Obama said.

Obama said Awlaqi was the leader of external operations of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and had taken the lead in planning and directing efforts to murder innocent Americans.

He said Awlaqi's killing in an air raid in Yemen was a tribute to the US intelligence community and to Yemen's cooperation with the United States in a common anti-terror campaign.

He also warned that though “weakened,” AQAP was still “dangerous” Going forward, we will remain vigilant against any threats to the United States or our allies and partners.

“But make no mistake, this is further proof that al Qaeda and its affiliates will find no safe haven anywhere in the world.

“Working with Yemen and our other allies and partners, we will be determined, we will be deliberate, we will be relentless, we will be resolute in our commitment to destroy terrorist networks that aim to kill Americans.”

Awlaqi, was killed in a presumed US airstrike in Yemen on Friday.

Yemen's defense ministry, which announced the death, also said that Samir Khan, who edited al Qaeda's English-language magazine “Inspire,” was killed in the same air strike.