The Long War Journal previously reported that al Ansi was not only a senior AQAP official, but also served as one of al Qaeda’s global deputy general managers, giving him responsibilities far outside of Yemen.

This identification was based, in large part, on declassified documents recovered in Osama bin Laden’s compound.

Al Ansi served directly under al Qaeda’s upper echelon throughout his lengthy career. According to a translation by the SITE Intelligence Group, Al Ansi was one of Osama bin Laden’s “special ones.”

Al Ansi “took courage and wisdom from” bin Laden, “as well as the "jurisprudence" of jihad, movement, and the call.”