Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) gunmen at a secret location in Yemen. (File photo: AFP/VNA)

AQAP did not state the cause of his death but announced the appointment of Sa'd bin 'Atef al-Awlaki as Batarfi’s successor.

AQAP is an Islamic jihadist organization, predominantly active in Yemen and Saudi Arabia. This group is considered the most active of Al Qaeda 's branches and is regarded by the US as the most dangerous branch of Al-Qaeda.

The UN and numerous countries and international organizations classify the group as a terrorist organization.