"Hamza bin Ladin, the high-ranking al-Qa’ida member and son of Usama bin Ladin, was killed in a United States counter-terrorism operation in the Afghanistan/Pakistan region," the President said in a statement.

"The loss of Hamza bin Ladin not only deprives al-Qa’ida of important leadership skills and the symbolic connection to his father, but undermines important operational activities of the group," he said.

The President said Hamza bin Laden was responsible for planning and dealing with various terrorist groups.

Two years ago, he was designated as a global terrorist by the US.

He was widely seen as a potential successor to his father. Thought to be about 30, he had sent out calls for attacks on the US and other countries, reported BBC.