Mokhtar Belmokhtar was not killed in air strikes, says al-Qaeda

Libyan government sources had claimed the war lord had been killed in a US strike

An undated handout picture made available by the FBI on 15 June 2015 shows Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a veteran Islamist fighter affiliated with al-Qaeda in North Africa (EPA/FBI)

Al Qaeda has denied reports that senior figure Mokhtar Belmokhtar has been killed in a US air strike in Libya.

According to a statement issued by the North Africa branch of the organisation, Algerian militant Belmokhtar is alive and unharmed by US operations.

The statement said: “The mujahid commander Khalid Abu al-Abbas is alive and well, and he wanders and roams in the land of Allah, supporting his allies and vexing his enemies.”

The internationally recognised Libyan administration had stated on Sunday that he had been killed at a gathering with other militant leaders when a US strike took place.

This would not be the first time for the militant to have been declared dead only to resurface. His death was announced in March 2013, but later re-emerged.

The one eyed warlord is understood to have been behind two suicide bomb attacks in Niger, which resulted in the deaths of 25 people.

He has been nicknamed 'Mr Marlboro' amid speculation that he is smuggling cigarettes to fund his operations.

The US has issued a $5 million bounty on his head making him one of the most wanted terrorists globally.