U.S. officials confirmed al-Qaeda’s second-in-command, Abu Yahya al-Libi, dead on Tuesday after being targeted by a CIA drone strike in Pakistan.  The Libyan jihadist, who escaped from U.S. custody in 2005, was considered a big player in al-Qaeda for his role as a spiritual leader and operational manager.  One U.S. official, who chose to remain anonymous, said Libi “played a critical role in the group’s planning against the West” and that there is “no one who even comes close in terms of replacing the expertise AQ has just lost.”  Other U.S. intelligence officials said there is no obvious successor.

Drone activity has been rampant in Pakistan since Saturday, where two other operatives were killed.  In response to the increased activity, U.S. diplomats have received warning from the Pakistan government that the drone strikes are “unlawful, against international law and a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty.”

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