The U.S. official emphasized Libi's importance to the terror group.
There is no-one who even comes close in terms of replacing the expertise al-Qaida has just lost, he told the BBC, adding that al-Qaida's leadership will be hard-pressed to find any one person who can readily step into [Libi's] shoes.
Libi, an Islamic scholar from Libya, was believed to be al-Qaida's second-in-command, after the leader Ayman al-Zawahiri, who took over following the assassination of Osama bin Laden in May 2011.
The drone strike also killed 15 other suspected militants, according to BBC.
However, Pakistan, which expressed its anger over the drone strike mission, has not officially confirmed the deaths.





![Introducing Skywhale: Canberra, Australia’s Controversial $300K Centenary Balloon [PHOTOS] Introducing Skywhale: Canberra, Australia’s Controversial $300K Centenary Balloon [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_multimedia/public/2013/05/14/skywhale.jpeg)
![Meet Ahmed Angel: The Greatest Internet Superstar. Ever. [PHOTOS] Meet Ahmed Angel: The Greatest Internet Superstar. Ever. [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/14/ahmed-angel.jpg)


![Airbus Shows Off The First A350 XWB, The Boeing 787's Rival [PHOTOS] Airbus Shows Off The First A350 XWB, The Boeing 787's Rival [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/13/a350.jpg)

![Lisalla Montenegro: Meet Angels Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s New Supermodel Fiancé [PHOTOS] Lisalla Montenegro: Meet Angels Pitcher C.J. Wilson’s New Supermodel Fiancé [PHOTOS]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/10/lisalla-montenegro_3.jpg)

![Swallowed By Hippo: Paul Templer, River Guide, Attacked By Hippopotamus On Africa's Zambezi River [VIDEO] Swallowed By Hippo: Paul Templer, River Guide, Attacked By Hippopotamus On Africa's Zambezi River [VIDEO]](http://s1.ibtimes.com/sites/www.ibtimes.com/files/styles/v2_medium/public/2013/05/09/hippo.jpg)















Like or Follow us for updates on the biggest stories!